Sci - Air Mass

An Earth science student observed the following weather condition in Albany, New York, for 2 days. The first day was warm and humid with southerly winds. The second day, the temperature was 15 degrees cooler, the relative humidity had decreased and wind direction was northwest. Which type of air mass most likely had moved into the area on the second day?

• continental tropical

• maritime polar

• maritime tropical

• continental polar

Answer explanation

continental tropical - drier and warm

maritime polar - humid and cold

maritime tropical - humid and warm

Compared to a maritime tropical airmass, a maritime polar airmass has

• higher temperature and less water vapor

• higher temperature and more water vapor

• lower temperature and less water vapor

• lower temperature and more water vapor

Which geographic region is the most common source region for the mT air masses that move into New Your State?

• southwestern United States

• Arctic Ocean

• Gulf of Mexico

• northern Canada

Which type of air mass would most likely have low humidity and high air temperature?

• mT

• mP

• cT

• cP

The weather characteristics of air mass result primarily from its

• size and shape

• geographic origin

• direction of movement

• rate of movement

Which abbreviation indicates a warm air mass that contains large amounts of water vapor?

• cP

• cT

• mP

• mT

A weather station model for a location in New York State is shown below. The air mass over this location is best described as [Look at Question 7 on sheet for image]

• warm with low humidity and high air pressure

• cold with low humidity and high air pressure

• warm with high humidity and low air pressure

• cold with high humidity and low air pressure

The weather map below shows a frontal system that has followed a typical storm track. the air mass located over point X most likely originated over the [see question 8 on sheet for image]

• Pacific Northwest

• central part of Canada

• Gulf of Mexico

• northern Atlantic Ocean

Base your answer to the following question on The map of North America below shows a low-pressure center and its associated fronts. The letters A, B, C, and D represent weather stations. If this weather system follows a typical path, at which station would the low-pressure center be located in about 24 hours? [see sheet, question 1]

• Station A

• Station B

• Station C

• Station D

Which statement best explains why precipitation occurs at frontal boundaries?

• Cold fronts move slower than warm fronts

• Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts

• Warm, moist air sinks when it meets cold dry air

• Warm, moist air rises when it meets cold, dry air