Chapter 20 Reading Guide
Weather
20.1 Air Masses and Weather
What is an air mass and how does it typically gain its specific characteristics?
Record the characteristics of the five main types of air masses.
Air Mass
Place of Origin
Direction of
Movement
Weather Impact
Continental Arctic
(cA)
Maritime Polar
(mP)
Continental Polar
(cP)
Continental Tropical
(cT)
Maritime Tropical
(mT)
20.2 Fronts and Lows
1. Define and explain the stage at which a low-pressure system produces the most intense
storm.
Complete the organizer with information describing different fronts and the weather they
bring.
1. Warm Front
2. Cold Front
3. Occluded Front
4. Stationary Front
20.3: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
Complete the organizer by listing the conditions and locations where thunderstorms most
often develop, then listing and defining their possible effects.
THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP

1. a.)
b.)
c.)

and can cause

2.
\
4.

which is

3.

which are

5.
List and describe some ways that meteorologists predict tornadoes and warn people of the
related danger.
20.4: Hurricanes and Winter Storms
Complete the organizer to help you track the steps in the formation, development, impact,
and weakening of a hurricane.
1.
Mild atmospheric disturbance over tropical
ocean

2.
8.


7. Storm nears land
causing:
A
B
C
D
E
3.Air cools and
condenses
releasing heat


6. Storm moves
according to global
wind patterns
4.

\
5. Coriolis effect
rotates air in the
storm.
List and describe the characteristics of a blizzard:
20.5: Forecasting Weather
In the organizer below, record important elements of the forecasting process.
3.surface
observations
1. Satellites take
2. Radiosondes
\

/
4. Station models
+
5.
=
6. knowledge of local
weather patterns
7.
Explain why it is important that weather station models and surface maps be readable to
meteorologists in any country: