Weather Notes
*Air mass- a large body of air with similar humidity and similar temperature (pressure, density go along with temperature).*A front is when two or more air masses collide.
*Maritime air mass- formed over a large body of water.
-high humidity
*Continental air mass- formed over land
-small amounts of moisture
*Polar air mass- formed over the poles
-cold
-high density
-high pressure
*Arctic air mass- formed over arctic regions
-colder than polar
*Tropical air mass
-hot temperature
-low pressure
-low density
-Wind picks up air masses and brings them to the US
-When air masses collide, a front is formed
-Don't mix; one rises, one sinks
*High Air Pressure Areas
-Sinking air that flows outward
-Rotates in a clockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere
-Brings clear skies with calm and cooler conditions
-SUMMER-HOT, clear day and nights
-WINTER-COLD, clear day and nights
*Low Air Pressure Areas
-Warmer rising air
-Rotates counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere
-As air rises from the center, air from surrounding areas
-Windy, stormy conditions
*Warm Fronts
-Boundary between the leading edge of warm air.
-Warm air is less dense so it rises above the cooler air, leaving the area.
-Water
-Overcast
*Cold Fronts
-Leading edge of cold air displacing a warmer air mass.
-Moves rapidly, lifting warmer air upwards quickly
-Can cause violent storms (thunder, lightening, and tornadoes)
*Dry Line Boundary
-Narrow boundary separating HOT, DRY, southern Rocky Mountain air from VERY MOIST Gulf of Mexico air.
-Local to North Texas, Oklahoma, and the southern plains
-Develops during warm spring days
-Triggers severe thunderstorms and tornadoes
*Maritime air mass- formed over a large body of water.
-high humidity
*Continental air mass- formed over land
-small amounts of moisture
*Polar air mass- formed over the poles
-cold
-high density
-high pressure
*Arctic air mass- formed over arctic regions
-colder than polar
*Tropical air mass
-hot temperature
-low pressure
-low density
-Wind picks up air masses and brings them to the US
-When air masses collide, a front is formed
-Don't mix; one rises, one sinks
*High Air Pressure Areas
-Sinking air that flows outward
-Rotates in a clockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere
-Brings clear skies with calm and cooler conditions
-SUMMER-HOT, clear day and nights
-WINTER-COLD, clear day and nights
*Low Air Pressure Areas
-Warmer rising air
-Rotates counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere
-As air rises from the center, air from surrounding areas
-Windy, stormy conditions
*Warm Fronts
-Boundary between the leading edge of warm air.
-Warm air is less dense so it rises above the cooler air, leaving the area.
-Water
-Overcast
*Cold Fronts
-Leading edge of cold air displacing a warmer air mass.
-Moves rapidly, lifting warmer air upwards quickly
-Can cause violent storms (thunder, lightening, and tornadoes)
*Dry Line Boundary
-Narrow boundary separating HOT, DRY, southern Rocky Mountain air from VERY MOIST Gulf of Mexico air.
-Local to North Texas, Oklahoma, and the southern plains
-Develops during warm spring days
-Triggers severe thunderstorms and tornadoes