Air Masses and Fronts – Quiz Study Guide
1. What is an air mass? An air mass is a large body of air with uniform temperature and uniform moisture.
2. If a cold air mass moved over the Ashburn area, what would change? Temperatures would drop.
3. How are Air Masses classified? Air masses are classified by temperature and humidity.
4. Which air mass causes most of the precipitation in the eastern United States? Maritime Tropical over the
Caribbean Sea.
5. Which two air masses mainly influence much of the east coast? Maritime Tropical and Continental Polar.
6. Why do you think the Continental Tropical air mass centered over northern Mexico has little influence on
weather in the east? Air Masses don’t travel far from their source regions.
7. Air masses that form over land are called Continental, while air masses that form over water are called
Maritime.
8. What is a warm front? The boundary between advancing warm air mass & a colder air mass it is displacing.
9. What forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front? An occluded front
10. What happens along stationary fronts? The front stops moving forward, producing clouds & precipitation.
11. What kind of weather is associated with cold fronts? Wind, heavy rain, Thunderstorms, Lightning, clearing
and colder air after front passes.
#12,13,18 will
not be on Ms.
Bell’s Quiz
*12. What are middle-latitude cyclones? Low-pressure systems that cause stormy weather.
*13. Middle-latitude cyclones are fueled by air high up in the atmosphere.
14. What forms at the boundary between two different air masses? A front
15. Which types of fronts are most likely to produce thunderstorms? Cold and Occluded fronts
Fill in the blank:
16. The Continental tropical air mass can cause very hot, drought-like conditions during summer on the Great
Plains.
17. Heavy rain, on the windward slopes of mountains near the Pacific, is caused by the uplift of air in Maritime
polar air masses.
#12,13,18 will
*18. A middle-latitude cyclone is an area of Low pressure.
not be on Ms.
Bell’s Quiz
19. At a(n) Stationary front, the flow of air is almost parallel to the line of the front.
Please answer the following in complete sentences:
20. A warm, moist air mass moves northwest over a cool, dry area. How will the air mass affect the area it
moves over? It will bring warmer temperatures and rain
How will this affect the characteristics of the air mass? The air mass will eventually cool down and become
drier.
21. Describe the weather conditions that occur during the passing of a warm front and cold front.
Warm Front: Nimbostratus clouds with gentle, steady rain ahead of the front.
Cold Front: Cumulonimbus clouds with heavy rain and thunderstorms
Use the figure below to answer the following questions:
A
G
C
E
D
B
F
22. Which air masses bring cool, dry air to large regions of eastern North America? Continetal Polar and
Continental Arctic (air masses labeled C & E)
23. The air masses labeled A & G are classified as Maritime Polar
24. The air masses labeled B and F bring warm, moist air to the United States.
25. The air mass labeled D would be represented by the symbol cT.
26. The air mass labeled E would be represented by the symbol cP.
27. The air mass labeled B or F would be represented by the symbol mT.
28. The air mass labeled A or G would be represented by the symbol mP.