Study guide for 12.1-12.2 Air Masses, Coriolis effect, fronts, wind systems, and air pressure systems.
Match the front with its name and description.
1.________________
a. warm front
b. Cold, dense air forces the warm
air, which is less dense up.
Intense precipitation (heavy
rain/snow) and sometimes
thunderstorms
c. occluded front
d. When two air masses meet but
neither advances, the boundary
between them stalls. There can
be light winds and
precipitation. The wet weather
can last for several days.
e. stationary front
f. Sometimes a cold air mass
moves so rapidly that it
overtakes a warm front and
forces the warm air upward. As
the warm air is lifted, the
advancing cold air mass collides
with the cold air mass in front of
the warm front. Strong winds
and a lot of precipitation are
common.
g. cold front
h. Warm air displaces cold air
and can cause light precipitation
or drizzly rain
2.________________
3.________________
4._______________
red
Match the symbol with the front.
blue
purple
red
blue
5._________________
6._______________________
7.______________
8._____________________
a. warm front
b. stationary front
c. cold front
d. occluded front
__________10. This type of front brings drizzly rain and is followed by clear and warm weather.
a. cold front
b. warm front
c. occluded front
d. stationary front
__________11. This type of front brings cloudy, wet weather for several days.
a. occluded front
b. cold front
c. warm front
d. stationary front
__________12. In this type of front, thunderstorms are common, the air is cool, and there can be intense precipitation.
a. warm front
b. stationary front
c. cold front
d. occluded front
__________13. A front that brings cool temperatures, strong winds and large amounts of rain or snow after taking over a warm
front and forcing warm air upward.
a. cold front
b. occluded front
c. stationary front
d. warm front
__________14. The boundary between air masses of different densities and usually different temperatures is called:
a. border
b. front
c. boundary line
d. pressure zone
__________15. What is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout called?
a. air mass
b. cloud
c. front
d. atmosphere
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. trade winds
b. polar easterlies
c. prevailing westerlies
d. jet streams
________16. Systems that lie between the poles and about 60o latitude in both hemispheres.
________17. Narrow bands of fast, high-altitude westerly winds.
________18. Winds occurring between 30o north and south latitude and the equator.
________19. Winds that flow between 30o and 60o north and south latitude.
________20. Current, short-term variations in the atmosphere are referred to as ______________________________________________.
a. humidity
b. lapse rate
c. weather
d. the ionosphere
________21. The Coriolis effect is due to the ______________________________________ of Earth.
a. revolution
b. rotation
c. shape
d. density
________22. Low-pressure systems are usually associated with ___________________________________ weather.
a. cold and dry
b. cloudy and rainy
c. sunny and dry
d. warm and humid
________23. High-pressure systems are usually associated with ___________________________________ weather.
a. cold and dry
b. cloudy and rainy
c. sunny and dry
d. warm and humid
For 24-30, use the words moist, dry, cold and warm, and fill in the blanks to describe the characteristics for each number on
the map.
24. ___________________&___________________ 25.__________________&____________________
27
26. ___________________&___________________ 27.__________________&____________________
24
26
28. ___________________&___________________
29.__________________&____________________
25
30. ___________________&___________________
Use the following words to fill in 31-37.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Maritime polar continental polar
Arctic continental
maritime tropical
Continental tropical
28
29
30
What kind of air mass is 24?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 25?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 26?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 27?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 28?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 29?_____________________________________________
What kind of air mass is 30?_____________________________________________
38. Define climate. How many years do scientists look at to determine climate?
________39. The hot and humid weather in Texas during the summer is most likely due to what type of air mass?
a. Continental polar
b. Continental tropical
c. Maritime polar
d. Maritime tropical
________40. Frigid air that travels southward from Canada would be what type of air mass?
a. Continental polar
b. Continental tropical
c. Maritime polar
d. Arctic