Air Masses and Fronts
1. What is an air mass? ______
______
2. Scientists classify air masses according to ______and
______.
3. Use the picture below to fill in the table. Write down the characteristics of the type of air mass shown.
Characteristics (temperature and moisture)a. / d.
b. / e.
c. / f.
4. How are the air masses labeled “C” and “F” in the picture above alike and how are they different? ______
______
5. ______air masses form in the tropics and have low pressure.
6. Air masses that form over oceans are called ______air masses.
7. The area where air masses meet and do not mix becomes a(n) ______
8. ______air masses form over land, in the middle of continents.
9. A swirling center of low air pressure is called a(n)______.
10. ______are high-pressure centers of dry air.
11. Label the drawings to indicate a cold front and a warm front.
a. ______b. ______
17. Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about fronts.
a. Cold fronts can bring violent thunderstorms.
b. Warm fronts are associated with clouds and rain.
c. Stationary fronts may bring many days of clouds and precipitation.
d. Occluded fronts always bring fair weather.
18. Winds spiral ______toward the center of a cyclone.
19. What type of weather is associated with low pressure systems? ______
______
20. Winds in an anticyclone spin ______in the Northern Hemisphere.
21. What type of weather is generally associated with high pressure systems? ______
______