Which air masses would have the greatest influence on the weather east of the Rocky Mountains?
Continental polar (cP) and maritime tropical (mT) air masses influence the weather of North America most, especially east of the Rocky Mountains. Maritime tropical air is the source of much, if not most, of the precipitation received in the eastern two-thirds of the United States.
What type of weather do these air masses bring?
They can bring anything from tropical warm and humid days to arctic cold depending on the type of air mass. Fronts form the boundaries of air masses with differing properties. The most severe weather usually occurs when dry-cold continental polar air clashes with warm-humid maritime tropical air.
How does the movement of air masses affect weather?
The way the air moves affects the weather, because winds move heat and cold temperatures as well as moisture from one place to another, transporting conditions from one geographical zone to another. The way winds pass each other, and the direction they move, also affects what weather a region will see on any given day.
In what direction do air masses move?
Once an air mass is formed, it is moved by global winds. In the United States, global winds such as the PREVAILING WESTERLIES, tend to move air masses from WEST to EAST!
How does air mass modification influence weather conditions as air masses move from one location to the next?
When a new air mass moves over a region it brings its characteristics to the region. This may change the area’s temperature and humidity. Moving air masses cause the weather to change when they contact different conditions. For example, a warm air mass moving over cold ground may cause an inversion.
What are two major causes for moving air masses in North America?
One major influence of air mass movement is the upper level winds such as the upper level winds associated with the jet stream. The jet stream wind is often referred to as a steering wind. The troughs and ridges of the jet stream will help transport cold air toward lower latitudes and warm air toward high latitudes.
Which factor has the greatest influence on the movement of an air mass?
Science Spheres
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which factor has the greatest influence on the direction of the air mass track | Upper air currents |
| Precipitation is most likely occurring near where | Near a warm front |
| A sudden change in the weather at a certain location is most likely caused by | The arrival of an air mass |
Why do air masses form in high pressure areas?
Air masses form over regions where the air is stable for a long enough time that the air can take on the characteristics of the region. Air masses move when they are pushed by high level winds.
What is the relationship between air pressure and air mass?
One air mass is lifted above the other, creating a low pressure zone. If the lifted air is moist, there will be condensation and precipitation. Winds are common at a front. The greater the temperature difference between the two air masses, the stronger the winds will be.
What air masses have high air pressure?
Polar air masses have HIGH air pressure. Four major types of air masses influence the weather in North America: maritime tropical, continental tropical, maritime polar, and continental polar.
Why does cold air have high pressure?
Cold air is more dense, therefore it has a higher pressure. Warm air is less dense and has a lower pressure associated with it. Cold air on the other hand can create large areas of high pressure because cold air is more dense and hovers near the ground.
What weather is associated with high pressure?
A high pressure system is a whirling mass of cool, dry air that generally brings fair weather and light winds. When viewed from above, winds spiral out of a high-pressure center in a clockwise rotation in the Northern Hemisphere. These bring sunny skies. A high pressure system is represented as a big, blue H.
What effect does temperature have air pressure?
When gas molecules are heated, the molecules move more quickly, and the increased velocity causes more collisions. As a result, more force is exerted on each molecule and air pressure increases. Temperature affects air pressure at different altitudes due to a disparity in air density.
Is heat high or low pressure?
Areas where the air is warmed often have lower pressure because the warm air rises. These areas are called low pressure systems. Places where the air pressure is high, are called high pressure systems. A low pressure system has lower pressure at its center than the areas around it.