(GETTINGA HANDLE ON THE BASICS)
Name:
Date:
Period:
1. First of all, what is an air mass? An area of air that has the same humidity and
temperature throughout it.
2. An air mass’s name describes which two physical characteristics?
a. height and weight
b. temperature and humidity
c. color and temperature
d. humidity and density
3. Identify each numbered air mass on the map by recording the names on the lines below.
1 maritime polar
2 continental polar
3 maritime polar
4 maritime tropical
5 continental tropical
6 maritime tropical
4. Abbreviations can be used for air mass names. Record the abbreviations for each air
mass below.
continental polar = cP
continental tropical = cT
maritime polar = mP
maritime tropical = mT
5. Go back to the map and add the correct abbreviations for each air mass.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Continental air masses form over
Maritime air masses form over
Polar air masses form in
Tropical air masses form in
a. land
a. land
a. cold regions
a. cold regions
b. water
b. water
b. warm regions
b. warm regions
10. Based on the descriptions below of temperature and humidity, record the name of the
matching air mass.
1. dry and cold = continental polar
2. wet and cold = maritime polar
3. dry and warm = continental tropical
4. wet and warm = maritime tropical
11. Describe the type of weather each air mass brings to an area.
1. maritime tropical wet and warm
2.continental tropical dry and warm
3. maritime polar wet and cold
4. continental polar dry and cold
12. Create two of your own original questions about air masses.
1. ____________________________________________________________?
2. ____________________________________________________________?