Air Masses, Fronts, Weather Map Symbols Note Taking Guide
Name:
An ______ _________ is a large (usually thousands of miles across) ___________ of _________
that has the same ___________________ and _____________________. Air masses get their
______________ from spending _______________ to ________________ over the
_______________part of the_______________________
The four types of air masses
1.
2.
3.
4.
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Describe the characteristics of each air mass and where they are formed
Continental- Formed over _______________and are ________________.
Maritime- Form over ___________________ and are ________________.
Tropical- Form over ____________________ and are _________________.
Polar- Form over ______________________ and are__________________.
If the air mass sits over the ______________for a while, it becomes ___________ (wet) and is
called _____________________. The air will have _________________
___________________.
If the _________ ______________ sits over __________________ for a while, it becomes
_______________ and is called ___________________. The air will have ___________
humidity.
If the air mass sits near the _________________ for a while, it becomes ___________ and is
called_______________.
If the __________mass sits near the ________________for a while, it becomes
___________and is called _____________________.
1.____________________
2.________________
3.___________________
4_________________
Label the four air masses on the world map
This means there are 4 combinations:
Maritime tropical = wet & warm
_________________ tropical = ____________ & warm
___________________ polar = _____________ & cold
Continental ______________= ______________ & cold
What type of air masses do you think affect the weather in the Hawaiian Island? __________
and __________________.
An ________ ___________is a large body of air with similar _______________
,_____________, and ____________________________________ levels throughout.
Earth: Examples: over central Canada, the North Pole, the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Describe
what the air would be like in each of these places. Warm? Cold? Wet? Dry?
Central Canada ______________& __________________.
North Pole _______________ & __________________.
Tropical Atlantic Ocean __________________& _____________________.
Why does our weather change?
How?
Weather fronts
•
A ____________ is a place where___________ different________
masses____________.
•
_______________ main types
•
A _____________________between air masses
In the section below list, describe and draw the symbol and diagram with each front.
The four main types of fronts:
1. Cold Front:
2. Warm Front:
3. Stationary Front:
4. Occluded Front
Weather Map Symbols Representing the different Fronts
Cold Front:
Warm Front:
Stationary Front:
Occluded Front
So what does the H and L stand for on a weather map? (air pressure) Draw a diagram
illustrating your understanding of High and Low pressure below.
Remember: Ascending air (air rising is associated with cloudy skies and rain)
Descending air (air that is pressing down on the surface is associated with
clear and sunny skies.)
What are the different types of weather maps and what do they each show:?
1.
2.
3.
4.