Air Masses
An air mass is a large body of air that has relatively uniform temperature and humidity. The regions where air masses form are referred to as air mass source regions. If air remains over a source region long enough, it will acquire the properties of the surface below. Ideal source regions are regions that are generally flat and of uniform composition. Examples include central Canada, Siberia, oceans and large deserts.
Air Mass Classification
Air masses are classified according to their temperature and moisture characteristics. They are grouped into four categories based on their source region. Air masses that originate in the cold, polar regions are designated with a capital “P” for polar. Air masses that originate in the warm, tropical regions are designated with a capital “T” for tropical. Air masses that originate in the arctic region are designated with a capital “A” for arctic. Air masses that originate over land will be dry and are designated with a lowercase “c” for continental. Air masses that originate over water will be moist and are designated with a lowercase “m” for maritime.
These letters are combined to indicate the type of air mass:
cP: cold, dry air mass – continental Polar
mP: cold, moist air mass – maritime Polar
cT: warm, dry air mass – continental Tropical
mT: warm, moist air mass – maritime Tropical
cA: extremely cold, extremely dry air mass – continental Arctic
Once formed, air masses can move out of their source regions bringing cold, warm, wet, or dry conditions to other parts of the world.
Warm and Cold Fronts
A front is simply the boundary between two air masses. Fronts are classified by which type of air mass (cold or warm) is replacing the other.
Cold Fronts
A front is called a cold front if the cold air mass is replacing the warm air mass. The air behind a cold front is colder and typically drier than the air ahead of it, which is generally warm and moist.
There is typically a shift in wind direction as the front passes, along with a change in pressure (pressure falls prior to the front arriving and rises after it passes). Cold fronts have a steep slope, which causes air to be forced upward along its leading edge. This is why there is sometimes a band of showers and/or thunderstorms that line up along the leading edge of the cold front. Cold fronts are represented on a weather map by a solid blue line with triangles pointing in the direction of its movement.
Warm Fronts
A warm front occurs when a cold air mass is receding (i.e. a warm air mass is replacing a cold air mass). The air behind a warm front is warm and moist, while the air ahead of a warm front is cooler and less moist. Similar to the cold front, there will a shift in wind direction as the front passes and a change in pressure. Warm fronts have a more gentle slope than cold fronts, which often leads to a gradual rise of air. This gradual rise of air favors the development of widespread, continuous precipitation, which often occurs along and ahead of the front. Warm fronts are represented on a weather map by a solid red line with semi-circles pointing in the direction of its movement.
Stationary Fronts
A stationary front is a front that is not moving. Although the frontal boundary does not move, the air masses may move parallel to the boundary. Stationary fronts can also produce significant weather and are often tied to flooding events. Stationary fronts are represented on a weather map by alternating red and blue lines, with blue triangles and red semi-circles facing opposite directions.
Occluded Fronts
Generally, cold fronts move faster than warm fronts. Sometimes in a storm system the cold front will “catch up” to the warm front. An occluded front forms as the cold air behind the cold front meets the cold air ahead of the warm front. Which ever air mass is the coldest undercuts the other. The boundary between the two cold air masses is called an occluded front. Occluded fronts are represented on weather maps by a solid purple line with alternating triangles and semi-circles, pointing in the direction of its movement.