Weather Patterns & Storms

Front 1

air mass

Back 1

a large collection of air with similar characteristics
- Temperature & Humidity are both responsible for changes in weather from day to day, one comes in one leaves
named by where they come from

Front 2

Maritime

Back 2

from the ocean (m)
3rd word is the name of the body of water

Front 3

Continental

Back 3

from land

Front 4

Tropical

Back 4

from the south

Front 5

Polar

Back 5

from the north

Front 6

Front

Back 6

the boundary between 2 opposing air masses.
air masses don't mix because of their density's

Front 7

Cold front

Back 7

rapidly cold air mass moving to a slow warm air mass. Cold air is denser so it sinks and the warm air rises over. As the warm air rises it cools. The cooling causes precipitation. Cold fronts move quickly, so strong winds and severe thunderstorms happen for short periods of time. Rain and snow may fall otherwise it is just cloudy skies.

Front 8

Warm front

Back 8

Slowly moving warm air collides with slowly moving cold air. The warm air is less dense so it rises over the cold air. Clouds, storms, and rain are often associated with this. Warm fronts move slowly therefore weather for longer time

Front 9

Stationary Front

Back 9

two air masses push with the same force, neither air masses advance. rain for several days, can result in floods.

Front 10

Occluded Front

Back 10

when fast moving cold front catches up to a warm front. (Cold front moves faster). Storms are created when warm air is forced upward. A warm air mass is caught between two cooler air masses. The temperature near the ground becomes cooler. Warm air mass is cut off from the ground. Clouds, rain, or snow may occur.

Front 11

Cumulonimbus

Back 11

tall stretched clouds before a thunderstorm.

Front 12

Cirrus

Back 12

thin and wispy ; good weather

Front 13

Stratus

Back 13

puffy clouds

Front 14

Storm surge

Back 14

when a hurricanes winds force water onshore. hurricane causes a rise in the water

Front 15

Isobars

Back 15

lines of equal atmospheric pressure drawn on a meteorological map