Weather “U” Lesson 20: Air Masses

This chapter and lesson we are going to look at air masses which move throughout the globe everyday impacting our weather.

Above we break down the different type of air masses.

Our first air mass that we look at is the Marine-time polar air which is found in the Gulf of Alaska. This air mass brings heavy snow to Alaska in the winters.

Now our next feature is called the Canadian High pressure which is associated with Continental which means dry and Polar which means cold. So this type of air mass is cold and dry and in the winter we in the US feel this High pressure often.

The next air mass is known as the Arctic High, this air mass is very dry and frigid. In the winter when this air mass intrudes into the US we see some places hit -20F for temps that is the great sign of the Arctic High.

The next air mass is known as Continental Tropical, meaning that it is dry because it’s over land and warm because its made out of tropical air. If you recall in the summers it is very hot and dry in the desert southwest of the US and this is the reason why.

The next air mass we see both sides of it in the US. It is called the Marine-time Tropical Air mass and it has two sides to it. As we see along the West Coast of the United States the Pacific High influences the weather along the coast. With cool summers, while the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico deal with warm and humid summers. So now you ask why such a difference if you remember back in Dynamics 2 we talked about the flow around a high and we now that on the East side of a High it is colder air which is where CA is located, while the western side of the high is warmer and moist this fits the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico with respect to the Bermuda High. These two highs are semi permanent meaning the move twice a year half way across the ocean and that is it.

Now let’s review this chapter to see what we learned answering the following questions above.

Enjoy the weather!!