What types of air masses form over the equatorial oceans?
Equatorial air masses develop near the Equator, and are warm. Air masses are also identified based on whether they form over land or over water. Maritime air masses form over water and are humid. Continental air masses form over land and are dry.
What happens to air masses at the equator?
Air masses that originate near the equator are typically warm and moisture-laden, and they feed types of storms on Earth such as tropical rain forests and fuel hurricanes. Air masses move vertically, with cold masses sinking and pushing warm air masses up.
How do you describe air masses if they formed over the ocean?
Air masses that form over the ocean, called maritime air masses, are more humid than those that form over land, called continental air masses. The second part of the name describes the temperature of the air mass, which depends on the latitude where it formed.
Why are air masses near the equator usually tropical?
Surface temperatures in the winter are too cold to create a continental tropical air mass there. Near the equator the exceedingly warm and humid maritime equatorial air masses form.
Where do cP and cA air masses originate?
Continental polar (cP) or continental arctic (cA) air masses are cold, dry, and stable. These air masses originate over northern Canada and Alaska as a result of radiational cooling. They move southward, east of Rockies into the Plains, then eastward.
Which type of air masses are most likely to form over land near the equator?
Continental air masses develop either north or south of the equator, between 25 and 60 degrees latitude. These air masses are dry, as they form over large land areas.
What factors determine the characteristics of an air mass?
Air masses are characterized by their temperature and humidity properties. The properties of air masses are determined by the the underlying surface properties where they originate. Once formed, air masses migrate within the general circulation.
What characteristics do air masses take on from the surface they form over?
An air mass is a large portion of air with relatively uniform temperature, humidity, and other characteristics that it takes from the water or land below it.
What are the characteristics of tropical air masses?
Tropical air masses are warm or even hot, as they form within 25 degrees latitude of the equator. These masses can develop over water or land, and are abbreviated with a “T.” Source regions include northern Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico, and the southwestern United States.
What characteristics would you expect in a cP air mass?
Continental polar (cP) or continental arctic (cA) air masses are cold, dry, and stable. These air masses originate over northern Canada and Alaska as a result of radiational cooling. They move southward, east of Rockies into the Plains, then eastward.
Which of the following characteristics are used to classify air masses?
Air masses are classified according to the temperature and moisture characteristics of their source regions. Based on temperature: tropical (warm), polar (cold), arctic (extremely cold).
What factors affect air mass?
In general, air mass factors depend on a number of factors, including: solar zenith angle, height of the layer being perturbed, wavelength, the type and abundance of aerosols, and the altitude and direction of observation.
What are the characteristics of an air mass source region what conditions are needed to allow an air mass to develop ?)?
What conditions are necessary for an air mass to form? It must stay over a land or sea surface long enough to acquire the temp/humidity/stability characteristics of the surface below. They are associated with source regions, they must be extensive, physically uniform, and have stationary air.
What determines the characteristics of an air mass?
Air masses are characterized by their temperature and humidity properties. The properties of air masses are determined by the the underlying surface properties where they originate. Once formed, air masses migrate within the general circulation.
What are characteristics of air masses?
Air masses have fairly uniform temperature and moisture content in horizontal direction (but not uniform in vertical). Air masses are characterized by their temperature and humidity properties. The properties of air masses are determined by the the underlying surface properties where they originate.
What is the main characteristic of a tropical air mass?
description. The maritime Tropical (mT) is the most important moisture-bearing and rain-producing air mass throughout the year. In winter it moves poleward and is cooled by the ground surface. Consequently, it is characterized by fog or low stratus or stratocumulus clouds, with drizzle and poor visibility.
What are the characteristics that define air masses?
An air mass is a large body of air with generally uniform temperature and humidity. The area over which an air mass originates is what provides its characteristics. The longer the air mass stays over its source region, the more likely it will acquire the properties of the surface below.
What are the 4 characteristics of air masses?
Air masses are commonly classified according to four basic source regions with respect to latitude. These are Polar (cold), Arctic (very cold), Equatorial (warm and very moist), and Tropical (warm).