Air Masses & Weather Fronts

Front

What is an air mass?

Back

A large body of air that has uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

Front

What defines an air mass?

Back

Its temperature and water vapor content (humidity).

Front

What is a front in meteorology?

Back

The boundary where two different air masses meet.

Front

What type of air mass is typically found over Southern California?

Back

Maritime tropical.

Front

What type of weather front can produce precipitation?

Back

Cold, warm, stationary, and occluded fronts can all produce precipitation.

Front

What is a cold front?

Back

A boundary where a colder air mass pushes into a warmer air mass, often leading to thunderstorms.

Front

What is a warm front?

Back

A boundary where a warmer air mass slides over a colder air mass, usually bringing steady rain.

Front

What is a stationary front?

Back

A front that occurs when two air masses meet but neither is strong enough to replace the other.

Front

What is an occluded front?

Back

A front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air off the ground.

Front

What type of air mass is found in the northeastern U.S. around NYC?

Back

Maritime polar.