Date
Name
WKST #
What are air masses?
Lesson Review
PART A Write true if the statement is true. If the statement is false, change the
underlined term to make the statement true.
____________________ 1. An air mass forms when air stays over an area for a while or moves slowly
over an area.
____________________ 2. Air masses that form over land are moist.
____________________ 3. Air masses that form over tropical regions are warm.
____________________ 4. Polar air masses form over warm regions.
____________________ 5. A warm air mass that forms over the Caribbean Sea is a maritime tropical
air mass.
____________________ 6. Air masses that form over dry land are tropical air masses.
PART B Identify the air masses shown on the map. Write the abbreviation in each box on the map and on the
lines provided write a geographic source region for where that air mass may have originated.
1.
____________________
2.
____________________
3.
____________________
4.
____________________
5.
____________________
6.
____________________
Complete the table.
CLASSIFICATION OF AIR MASSES
Air Mass
1. Continental polar
2. Maritime polar
3. Maritime tropical
4. Continental tropical
Formed over
land or water?
Formed in cold
region or warm
region?
Warm or cold?
Dry or moist?
Air Masses
1. The properties of an air mass depend mainly on the
a. wind speed within the air mass
b. characteristics of the surface over which the air mass was formed
c. size of the air mass
d. rotation of the Earth
2. An air mass originating over north central Canada would most likely be
a. warm and dry
b. warm and moist
c. cold and dry
d. cold and moist
3. The characteristics of an air mass which formed over the Gulf of Mexico would probably be
a. cool and dry
b. warm and dry
c. cool and humid
d. warm and humid
4. An air mass originating over the North Pacific Ocean would most likely be
a. continental polar
b. continental tropical
c. maritime polar
d. maritime tropical
5. Which air mass is associated with low relative humidity and high air temperature?
a. maritime polar
c. continental polar
b. maritime tropical
d. continental tropical
6. An air mass originates with its center located at 25˚N and 90˚W.
Based on the map, this air mass would be classified as
a. cP
c. cT
b. mP
d. mT
7. Which geographic area is a common source region for cP air masses that move into New Jersey?
a. southwestern United States
b. central Canada
c. the north Pacific Ocean
d. the Gulf of Mexico
8. An mP air mass is located over the northwestern part of the United States. The source region of
this air mass is most likely
a. central Mexico
b. the Gulf of Mexico
c. northern Canada
d. the North Pacific Ocean
9. Which abbreviation indicates a warm air mass that contains large amounts of water vapor?
a. cP
c. mT
b. cT
d. mP
10. On a weather map, an air mass that is very warm and dry would be labeled
a. mP
c. cP
b. mT
d. cT
11. An air mass classified as cT usually forms over which type of Earth surface?
a. cool water
c. warm water
b. cool land
d. warm land
12. Locations A and B on the map of North America below are source regions for air masses.
Compared to the air mass formed at location B, the air mass formed at location A will normally be
a. cooler and drier
c. warmer and drier
b. cooler and wetter
d. warmer and wetter
Base your answer to question 13 on the map below, which represents the geographic source regions
of two air masses, X and Y. The arrows represent the convergence of these air masses, which may
result in tornadoes.
13. Identify the two-letter symbol for air masses X and Y. Then, describe air masses X and Y.
Air Mass
X
Y
Two-Letter Symbol
Description