Chapter 25.

1= Air Masses
• Air Mass= a large
body of air with a
uniform temperature
and moisture content.
– Forms over a region
(large area)
– Tropical areas are
warm and moist
– Polar areas are cold
and dry
 Types of Air Masses
• Air Masses are classified according to their source region,
which also determines temperature and humidity.
– Cold label is P (Polar)
– Warm label is T (Tropical)
– Ocean label is m (maritime)
– Land label is c (continental)

• 4 Main types and combinations of air masses

– Maritime Polar (mP)
– Maritime Tropical (mT)
– Continental Polar (cP)
– Continental Tropical (cT)
 North American Air Masses
• Maritime Polar Pacific (mP)= formed over
North Pacific Ocean. Cool and moist winds.
• Continental Polar Canadian (cP)= formed over
northern Canada. Cool winds during summer,
very cold winds in winter.
• Maritime Polar Atlantic (mP)= formed over
North Atlantic Ocean. Cool winds with clouds
and fog in summer. Cold winds with clouds
and precipitation in winter.
 North American Air Masses
• Maritime Tropical Pacific (mT)= form over warm areas
of the Pacific Ocean. Summer air usually remains in
Pacific, but winter brings heavy rains and
thunderstorms to coast.
• Continental Tropical (cT)= flow over North America
only during the summer. Bring clear, dry and very hot
weather.
• Maritime Tropical Gulf, Maritime Tropical Atlantic
(mT)= form over the Gulf of Mexico or tropical area of
Atlantic Ocean. Mild / cloudy weather in the winter.
Summer brings hot, humid, and violent weather.
North American Air Masses Image
Fronts- a boundary between air masses
• Cold front- cold air mass arrives and lifts a warm air mass
higher in the air. Short, sometimes violent storms are
produced. Squall lines, long lines of thunderstorms, occur
ahead of fast moving cold fronts.

• Warm front- a warm air mass gradually overtakes a cold air

mass. The warm air rises over the cold air while a lengthy
and warm storm occurs.

• Occluded front- cold air front arrives and quickly overtakes

a warm air front, pushing the warm air higher.

• Stationary front- A warm and cold air mass meet but

neither is able to overtake the other. Weather is similar to
warm front conditions.
Front Symbols
Cold Front – wedge shape forcing warm air
upward
Warm Front – warm air travels up cold
air like a ramp
Stationary Front= it’s a draw!
 Thunderstorms
• Thunderstorm
formation requires
three things:

• Moisture - to form
clouds and rain.
• Unstable Air -
relatively warm air
that can rise rapidly.
• Lift - things like fronts,
sea breezes and
mountains can lift air
to help form
thunderstorms.
Thunderstorm Hazards
– Hail
– Damaging Winds
– Tornados
– Flash Floods

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=DNgpI03nWFM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5pyvf4Nr9CE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=I5VRPgybP2M
 Formation of a Tornado
• The strongest
tornadoes are
often produced
from large,
single celled,
and rotating
thunderstorms
termed Super
cell
Thunderstorms.
 Tornadoes
• Tornadoes are the most violent type of storm,
with wind speeds reaching up to 300 miles
per hour. Tornadoes develop from powerful
thunderstorms and appear as rotating, funnel-
shaped clouds.
• Tornadoes cause damage when they touch
down on the ground. The path of a tornado
can range from one mile wide to 50 miles
long.
 Minimal Tornado
• F0, F1
• - 67% of S.C. TX Tornadoes
• - Causes 5% of all deaths
• - Life span 1 to 2 minutes
• - Path length less than 1
mile
• - Path width less than 100
yards
• - Wind speeds up to 110
mph
 Strong Tornado
• F2, F3
• - 30% of S.C. TX Tornadoes
• - Causes 30% of all deaths
- Life span 15 to 20 minutes
- Path up to 15 miles
• - Path width up to 500 yards
• - Wind speeds up to 200
mph
Violent Tornado
• F4, F5
• - 3% of S.C. TX Tornadoes
• - Causes 65% of all
deaths
• - Life span to several
hours
• - Path length dozens of
miles
• - Path width to 1 1/ 2
miles
• - Wind speeds over 300
mph
 Tornado Safety Tips
• Prepare for tornadoes by gathering emergency supplies
including food, water, medications, batteries,
flashlights, important documents, road maps, and a full
tank of gasoline.
• When a tornado approaches, anyone in its path should
take shelter indoors—preferably in a basement or an
interior first-floor room or hallway.
• Avoid windows and seek additional protection by
getting underneath large, solid pieces of furniture.
• Avoid automobiles and mobile homes, which provide
almost no protection from tornadoes.
• Those caught outside should lie flat in a depression or
on other low ground and wait for the storm to pass.
 Hurricanes
• The United States Weather Bureau calls a
wind a hurricane when it blows as fast as 74
miles an hour.
• Severe tropical storms developing over warm
water.
• Hurricanes may have a diameter of 400 to
500 miles (640-800 kilometers).
• The “eye” of a hurricane can be up to 20 miles
across. The weather in the “eye” is calm with
low winds and clear skies.
• Many hurricanes cause severe flooding.
Hurricane Hotspots
 Hurricane Safety Tips
• Before a Hurricane
• To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:
• Build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan
• Know your surroundings.
• Learn the elevation level of your property.
• Identify levees and dams in your area.
• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes.
• Cover all of your home’s windows.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, etc.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter below the 10th floor.
• Consider building a safe room.
Weather Forecasting
Instruments
Anemometers are used to measure
wind speed and the direction that
it is blowing.

A wireless weather station is capable

of measuring wind speed, wind
direction, temperature, humidity,
rainfall and barometric pressure.
Weather Symbols
Weather Station
 Practice Quiz
1) What is an air mass?
2) What are the 4 main types and combinations of air
masses?
3) What are squall lines?
4) List the 4 types of fronts with their characteristics.
5) What is the major cause of death associated with
tornadoes and hurricanes?
6) List two tornado safety tips people should follow.
7) What instruments are used to measure weather?
8) How is wind direction represented on a weather station?
9) What scales are used to measure the power of tornadoes
and hurricanes?
10) What are three ways to prepare for a hurricane?