Weather Notes 11.7.11
North American Air Masses
-Large body of air with similar humidity and temperature. Similar pressure
-when air masses collide, they form a front
Humidity: amount of water in air
-4 main types of air masses
Maritime Air Mass
-formed over a large body of water
-high humidity
Continental Air Masses
-formed over continents
-low humidity
Polar Air Masses
-formed over poles
-cold air
-high density
-high pressure
Arctic Air Masses
-formed over arctic regions
Tropical Air Masses
-hot temperature
-low pressure
-low density
High Air Pressure Areas
sinking air that flows outward
-rotates in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere
-brings clear skys with calm and cooler conditions
-Anti-cyclone
-SUMMER-HOT, clear days and nights
-WINTER-COLD, clear days and nights
Low Air Pressure Areas
-Warmer rising air
-rotates counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere
-As air rises from the center, air from surrounding areas rushes towards the LOW
-Windy, stormy conditions
-Warmer rising air
-rotates counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere
-As air rises from the center, air from surrounding areas rushes towards the LOW
-Windy, stormy conditions
Warm Fronts
-Boundary between the leading edge of warm air
-Warm air is less dense so it rises above the cooler air leaving the area
-Water vapor in the air condenses as it rises
-Overcast skies with light rain
-Boundary between the leading edge of warm air
-Warm air is less dense so it rises above the cooler air leaving the area
-Water vapor in the air condenses as it rises
-Overcast skies with light rain
Cold Fronts
-Leading edge of cold air displacing a warmer air mass
-Moves rapidly, lifting warmer air upwards quickly
-Cancause violent storms (thunder, lightening, and tornadoes)
-Leading edge of cold air displacing a warmer air mass
-Moves rapidly, lifting warmer air upwards quickly
-Cancause violent storms (thunder, lightening, and tornadoes)
Dry Line Boundary
-Narrow boundary separating HOT, DRY, southern Rocky Mountain air from VERY MOIST Gulf of Mexico air
-Local to Norht Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southern plains
-Develops during warm spring days
-Triggers severe thunderstorms and tornadoes
-Narrow boundary separating HOT, DRY, southern Rocky Mountain air from VERY MOIST Gulf of Mexico air
-Local to Norht Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southern plains
-Develops during warm spring days
-Triggers severe thunderstorms and tornadoes