17.1 Study Guide
Air Mass (pg.560)
A huge body of air that has a similar temperature, humidity, and pressure.
Tropical air mass (pg.
560)
A warm air mass that forms in the tropics and has low air pressure
Polar air mass (pg. 560)
A cold air mass that forms near the poles and has high air pressure
Maritime air mass (pg.
560)
Continental air mass
(pg.560)
A HUMID air mass that forms over the oceans
Front (pg. 563)
Occluded front (pg.565)
cyclone (pg. 565)
Anticyclone (pg.566)
A DRY air mass that forms in the middle of a continent
An area along which air masses meet but DO NOT mix.
Two cold air masses lift and cut a warm air mass from the ground.
A swirling center of low air pressure NOT A TORNADO
A swirling center of high air pressure NOT A TORNADO
Air Masses:


Know the characteristics of each air mass:
o Continental Polar (cP) – forms over land, cold dry air, clear skies, no precip.
o Continental Tropical (cT) – forms over land, warm dry air, causes drought, clear skies
o Maritime Polar (mP) – forms over water, cold and humid, brings precip to NW US
o Maritime Trpoical (mT) forms over water, warm and humid, brings precip to SW US and
to east coast of US.
Label each air mass on a map – know that cold air masses have high pressure, warm air masses
have low pressure
Fronts:



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Know symbols for cold front, warm front, stationary, and occluded front
Identify fronts on maps by symbols
Given a diagram – identify as warm, cold, occluded, or stationary
Know – strong intense storms accompany cold front; lingering rain or mild storm – warm front.
Stationary fronts bring precipitation for days.
Cold Front
Warm Front
Stationary Front
Occluded Front
Symbols:
Cold Front
Warm Front
Occluded Front
Stationary Front