Air Masses, Fronts amp; Mid-Latitude Cyclones：气团，锋amp；中纬度气旋.pptVIP

Air Masses, Fronts Mid-Latitude Cyclones Our Approach Air Masses Fronts Mid-Latitude Cyclones Weather Forecasting Air Masses Definition Portion of the Atmosphere with Large Horizontal Extent (100s to 1000s miles) Horizontally Uniform Temperature Horizontally Uniform Humidity Vertical Temperature Support Stability Air Masses are Energy Storage Regions How Do Air Masses Form Air Remains Over Uniform Surface for Several Days High Pressure Helps – Subsidence Enhances Stability, Clear Skies, Calm Winds Atmosphere Takes on Characteristics of Surface Beneath Factors Affecting Air Mass Characteristics Land vs. Water Land Surface Type Latitude (temperature) Season (temperature, stability) Air Mass Classification Temperature – Related to Latitude Zones A – Arctic P – Polar T – Tropical E – Equatorial AA - AntArctic Classification (cont.) Moisture or Humidity c – Continental – dry m – Maritime - moist Air Mass Designation cP - Continental Polar – cold and dry cT – Continental Tropical –warm and dry mP – Maritime Polar – cool and moist mT – Maritime Tropical – warm and moist Air Mass Movement and Change Air Masses will Eventually Move Out of Source Region Why – Strength of High Pressure or Prevailing Circulation Movement Out Of Source Region May Change Air Mass Characteristics Air Mass Modification Air Masses that Moves to a Region With a Higher Surface Temperature are Classified as a k (cold) Type Air Masse Example: a cP that forms in Eastern Canada moves over the North Atlantic where the surface temperature is Higher – the Air Mass becomes cPk Air Mass is colder (k) than surface below Air Mass Modification (cont.) Air Masses that Move to a Region With a Lower Surface Temperature are Classified as a w (warm) Type Air Mass Example: a mT that forms in the Gulf of Alaska moves over Central Canada moves c where the surface temperature is Lower – the Air Mass becomes mTw Air Mass is warmer (w) than surface below Characteristics of Modified Air Masses k Type Air Mass