Science test fronts

The two characteristics of air masses.

The two characteristics of air masses.

temperature and moisture

Form when two different large air masses meet and usually bring changes in the weather.

fronts

Marked on weather maps as a blue line with triangles on it.

cold front

The capital letter H stands for this on a weather map.

high pressure center

The name given to a scientist that studies weather.

meteorologist

An air mass that is dry and forms over land.

continental air mass

A type of front made of cold, dense air. Rain, snow, thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes are caused by this front. Usually, the precipitation does not last very long.

cold front

Marked on a weather map as a red line with half circles on it.

warm front

A capital letter L stands for this on a weather map.

low pressure center

Carries weather instruments as far up as the stratosphere.

weather balloons

An air mass that forms over the polar regions and is cold.

polar air mass

The front that forms when two air masses meet and neither one takes over. Often causes many cloudy days to occur in a row.

stationary front

Marked on a weather map as a blue line with blue triangles on one side and red half circles on the other side.

stationary front

Represented by a small circle that is completely white (not colored in).

clear skies

An air mass that forms over the tropics and is warm.

tropical air mass

The type of front formed when a large mass of warm air takes over the cooler air mass. Usually produce rain, fog, or snow that lis light but steady.

warm front

The type of weather forecast that is within the next 5 days.

short-range weather forecast

Lines that connect areas with the same air pressure on a map.

isobars

Often represented by asterisks or stars on a weather map.

snow

The layer of the atmosphere where weather satellites are located.

exosphere

An air mass that is wet and forms over water.

maritime air mass

The type of front that develops when two cool air masses merge, forcing the warm air to rise and become trapped. Usually brings wind and precipitation.

occluded front

Marked on the weather map as a purple line with half circles and triangles on the same side.

occluded front

Lines that connect areas with equal temperature on a weather map.

isotherms

States that a small change or disturbance, such as a butterfly flapping its wings, may play a part in the weather outcomes in the future.

butterfly effect