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Questions and Answers
What is the origin of maritime air masses?
Which letter designates continental air masses?
What type of front occurs when warm air replaces cold air?
What happens when cold air masses undercut warmer air masses?
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Which type of cloudiness and precipitation is typically associated with a warm front?
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How do the jet stream changes affect air masses?
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What causes a cyclone to occlude?
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Which type of air mass would be designated by the letter 'm'?
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What type of atmospheric boundary can lead to the development of a wave cyclone?
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In which region would continental air masses most likely originate?
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What characteristic defines an air mass as maritime?
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Which factor determines the properties an air mass acquires?
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What is the interface or transition zone between two air masses of different density and temperature called?
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What do meteorologists call the leading edge of an advancing mass of relatively cold air?
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Which type of front tends to move toward the Equator and eastward in middle and high latitudes?
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What weather conditions are usually associated with a cold front?
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At what height does a cold front usually lie 80 to 160 km behind its surface position?
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What is the main characteristic of cold air that allows it to undercut displaced warm air along a cold front?
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Study Notes
Air Masses
- Continental air masses (c) originate over continents and are dry
- Maritime air masses (m) originate over oceans and are moist
- Air masses are characterized by uniform temperature and humidity
- The area over which an air mass originates provides its characteristics
- Longer stay over source region results in acquiring properties of surface below
Fronts
- Formed by converging air masses with different density and temperature
- Characterized by changes in temperature, wind direction, and humidity
- Frequently accompanied by low barometric pressure, cloudiness, and precipitation
- Types of fronts based on direction of movement of colder air mass
Cold Fronts
- Leading edge of advancing cold air mass
- Move towards the Equator and eastward
- Slope of 1/50 to 1/100 at 1.5 km altitude
- Associated with showers and thunderstorms
- Cold air undercuts and forces warm air to rise, causing precipitation
Warm Fronts
- Formed when warm air replaces cold air
- Gentle slope favors broad area of rising air, resulting in layered cloudiness and precipitation
Stationary Fronts
- Boundary between two air masses with little or no horizontal motion
- Can lead to development of wave cyclone and stormy weather
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Description
Learn about continental and maritime air masses, their origins, and how they influence weather patterns. Explore the formation of air mass boundaries and fronts, and understand how the jet stream impacts the movement and strength of air masses.
