Air Mases

Question 1

What is an air mass?

Answer 1

A large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

Question 2

True or False: Air masses can cover thousands of square miles.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Name the four main types of air masses.

Answer 3

Continental Polar (cP), Maritime Polar (mP), Continental Tropical (cT), Maritime Tropical (mT).

Question 4

Fill in the blank: An air mass that forms over land is called a __________ air mass.

Answer 4

continental

Question 5

Which type of air mass is typically warm and moist?

Answer 5

Maritime Tropical (mT)

Question 6

What does the ‘c’ in cP and cT stand for?

Answer 6

Continental

Question 7

True or False: Maritime Polar air masses are usually warm and dry.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

How do air masses influence weather patterns?

Answer 8

They bring their temperature and humidity characteristics to the regions they move into.

Question 9

What is the primary factor that causes air masses to change?

Answer 9

Movement and interaction with other air masses.

Question 10

Which air mass is associated with cold weather and originates over ice or snow-covered regions?

Answer 10

Continental Polar (cP)

Question 11

Fill in the blank: The boundary between two different air masses is known as a __________.

Answer 11

front

Question 12

True or False: Maritime Tropical air masses are typically associated with heavy precipitation.

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What type of air mass would you expect to bring dry and hot conditions?

Answer 13

Continental Tropical (cT)

Question 14

Multiple Choice: Which air mass is most likely to form over the Gulf of Mexico? A) cP B) mT C) cT D) mP

Answer 14

B) mT

Question 15

What is the effect of an air mass moving over a colder surface?

Answer 15

It can lead to condensation and precipitation.

Question 16

True or False: Air masses can interact with mountains, leading to orographic lift.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

What is the significance of air mass classification?

Answer 17

It helps meteorologists predict weather patterns and changes.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: An air mass that forms over water is called a __________ air mass.

Answer 18

maritime

Question 19

What happens when two air masses of different temperatures meet?

Answer 19

They create a front, which can result in weather changes.

Question 20

Multiple Choice: Which air mass is typically cold and moist? A) cT B) mP C) cP D) mT

Answer 20

B) mP

Question 21

What is the primary source of moisture for maritime air masses?

Answer 21

Oceans and large bodies of water.

Question 22

True or False: Air masses can affect local climates.

Answer 22

True

Question 23

How do air masses contribute to storm development?

Answer 23

By colliding with other air masses and creating instability.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: The process of an air mass being lifted over a mountain range is known as __________.

Answer 24

orographic lift

Question 25

What is the role of the jet stream in relation to air masses?

Answer 25

It can steer and influence the movement of air masses.

Question 26

Multiple Choice: Which air mass is likely to bring cool, damp weather to the northeastern United States? A) cT B) mP C) cP D) mT

Answer 26

B) mP