Global Atmospheric Patterns and Ocean Currents

An enormous body of air with similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

A small pocket of air with varying temperature and humidity.

A stream of air moving across Earth's surface.

A type of wind belt that influences weather.

Maritime tropical

Continental tropical

Maritime polar

Continental polar

To push air masses from west to east.

To generate precipitation in air masses.

To form weather fronts.

To circulate warm and cold ocean currents.

Warm currents increase air temperature, while cold currents decrease it.

Cold currents increase air temperature, while warm currents decrease it.

Ocean currents have no effect on air temperature.

Ocean currents only influence precipitation, not air temperature.

Cool air moves into warm air, causing the warm air to rise and form clouds.

Warm air moves into cool air, causing the cool air to rise and form clouds.

Two air masses mix, creating stable weather conditions.

Warm air is caught between two cool air masses, forming an occluded front.

Prevailing westerlies

Polar easterlies

Tropical easterlies

Jet streams

Extended periods of rain, snow, fog, or clouds.

Abrupt weather changes, including thunderstorms.

Cloudy and rainy weather for days.

Warm weather typically follows.

a layer of warm air trapped above cooler air

an enormous body of air that has similar

a boundary separating two different air masses

the amount of water vapor in the air

any form of water that falls from clouds