Meteorology ch 11

What is an airmass?

A large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics in any horizontal direction at any given altitude.

What are the characteristics of an Arctic airmass?

Extremely cold, dry, stable air over land with an ice and snow covered surface.

What defines a Polar airmass?

Cold, dry, and stable over land.

What are the characteristics of a Tropical airmass?

Hot, dry, stable air aloft with unstable surface air.

What defines a Maritime Polar airmass?

Cool, moist, and unstable air.

What are the characteristics of a Maritime Tropical airmass?

Warm, moist, usually unstable air.

What should the source regions of an airmass be like?

They should be flat and uniform.

What affects the strength of properties acquired by an airmass?

The length of stay in the source region.

What is a front?

The boundary between two different air masses.

What is frontogenesis?

The formation of a front.

What is frontolysis?

The death of a front.

What does FROPA stand for?

Frontal Passage.

What can a frontal analysis reveal?

Sharp temperature and moisture gradients, shift in wind direction, pressure patterns, pressure changes, and cloud and precipitation patterns.

What is a cold front?

The boundary of an advancing mass of cold air that replaces warm air, characterized by a steep leading edge and strong upward motion.

What is an airmass modification?

The process by which an airmass changes temperature and moisture characteristics due to interactions with different surfaces or weather patterns.

What is the significance of source regions for airmasses?

Source regions are crucial as they determine the initial temperature and humidity characteristics of the airmass formed.

What influences the movement of airmasses?

The prevailing winds and the Earth's rotation influence the movement and direction of airmasses.

What is a warm front?

The boundary where a warm air mass replaces a cooler air mass, usually associated with gradual changes in temperature and extended cloud cover.

What weather is typically associated with a cold front?

Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and a rapid drop in temperature.

How do airmasses interact with topographical features?

Airmasses can be modified by mountains or bodies of water, altering their temperature and humidity.

What is the role of a jet stream in airmass movement?

The jet stream can steer and influence the path of airmasses, contributing to weather patterns.

What happens during occlusion in a front?

Occlusion occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, leading to complex weather patterns and often precipitation.

What is a stationary front?

A front that does not show significant movement, where warm and cold air masses meet, often resulting in prolonged weather conditions.

What are the effects of maritime airmasses on coastal weather?

Maritime airmasses generally bring moisture, leading to higher humidity, cloudiness, and precipitation along coastlines.