= TROPICAL
= POLAR
= MARITIME
(means sea…
wet)
= CONTINENTAL (means
land… dry)
That’s why weather
generally moves
WEST to EAST
in the U.S.
Air masses are steered by
the jet stream.
Less dense
Rises
Denser
sinks
Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts
Less dense
rises
Denser
sinks
Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts
Less dense
Rises
Denser
sinks
Less dense
Denser
Compare/Contrast Chart - Types of Fronts
Occluded
Stationary
Warm
Cold
Front
How it Forms
A fast-moving cold air
mass overtakes a warm
air mass.
Type of Weather
Clouds form.
If warm air is humid,
rain/snow may fall.
Possible thunderstorms.
A warm air mass
Scattered clouds.
overtakes a slow-moving Light rain or snow.
cold air mass.
May last several days.
Cold and warm air meet, Rain, snow, clouds, or
but neither can move the fog that may last for
other. Creates “standoff” days.
A warm air mass is
caught between 2 cooler
air masses. Warm air
mass is pushed up.
Temperature gets
cooler.
Clouds and rain may
form.
COLD FRONT
WARM FRONT
OCCLUDED FRONT
STATIONARY FRONT