18 Questions
What type of weather do continental tropical air masses bring in the summer?
clear, dry, hot weather
What happens when two or more air masses meet?
The less dense air mass rises over the denser air mass.
What is the result of a cold air mass replacing a warm air mass?
The weather is usually cooler.
What is the characteristic of a cold front?
A cold air mass moves under a warm air mass.
What is the difference between a warm front and a cold front?
A warm front occurs when a warm air mass moves over a cold air mass, whereas a cold front occurs when a cold air mass moves under a warm air mass.
What are the four main kinds of fronts?
cold fronts, warm fronts, occluded fronts, and stationary fronts
What happens when a cold air mass pushes a warmer air mass away?
A cold front forms.
What type of weather can be expected after a warm front passes?
Clear, warm weather.
What type of front forms when air masses stay in one place?
Stationary front
What type of front forms when a warm air mass is caught between two cold air masses?
An occluded front.
What do meteorologists use to forecast the weather?
Information on atmospheric conditions and special instruments
What happens to the warm air mass in an occluded front?
The warm air mass is pushed out of the way.
What type of front forms when a cold air mass and a warm air mass move toward each other, but neither has enough energy to push the other out of the way?
A stationary front.
What is a weather forecast?
A prediction of weather conditions over the next few days
Why do stationary fronts bring many days of the same weather?
Because the two air masses remain in the same place
What is the direction of movement of a front?
The direction of movement of a front is the direction that the air mass is moving.
What do meteorologists use to collect weather data?
Special instruments, including weather balloons
Why are accurate weather forecasts important?
To plan and prepare for severe weather and keep people safe
Study Notes
Air Masses and Fronts
- Continental tropical air masses (cT) form over deserts and move northward, bringing clear, dry, hot weather in the summer.
- Cold air masses (cP) come from northern Canada, maritime polar air masses (mP) come from the North Pacific Ocean, and maritime tropical air masses (mT) come from the Gulf of Mexico.
Fronts
- A front is the place where two or more air masses meet.
- When air masses meet, the less dense air mass rises over the denser air mass.
- Warm air is less dense than cold air, so warm air masses generally rise above cold air masses.
Types of Fronts
- Cold fronts form when a cold air mass moves under a warm air mass, pushing the warm air up and replacing it with cold air.
- Cold fronts can move quickly and bring heavy precipitation, and the weather is usually cooler after a cold front passes.
- Warm fronts form when a warm air mass moves in over a cold air mass, replacing the cold air as it moves away.
- Warm fronts can bring light rain and are followed by clear, warm weather.
- Occluded fronts form when a warm air mass is caught between two cold air masses, bringing cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow.
- Stationary fronts form when a cold air mass and a warm air mass move toward each other but neither has enough energy to push the other out of the way, resulting in many days of cloudy, wet weather.
Forecasting Weather
- A weather forecast is a prediction of weather conditions over the next few days.
- Meteorologists make weather forecasts using information on atmospheric conditions and special instruments to collect data.
- Meteorologists use instruments such as weather balloons to collect weather data and make predictions about future weather conditions.
Learn about the formation and characteristics of cold fronts and warm fronts, including the movement of fronts and the weather they bring. Test your understanding of these important weather phenomena.
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