Air masses

Properties of hot air: low density, low pressure, it rises, and it holds more moisture than cold air

Properties of cold air: high density, high pressure, it sinks, and it doesn’t hold much moisture

Air Masses are large bodies of air that have nearly the same temperature, humidity, and air pressure

throughout the entire air mass

Air masses have the same or similar properties as the place on the earth over which they formed. For example, if an air mass formed off the coast of south Florida, it would be a warm and wet or moist air mass because the coast of Florida is warm and wet.

There are four types of air masses

Maritime Tropical- formed near or over a body of water in an area that is warm

Maritime Polar- formed near or over a body of water in an area that is cold

Continental Tropical- formed over land in an area that is warm

Continental Polar- formed over land in an area that is cold

Air masses are responsible for day to day weather changes

Wind is air in motion

Wind always blows from high pressure to low pressure

The tool or instrument we use to measure air pressure is called a barometer