Fronts and Air Masses

Air Masses

An Air Mass is an area of air that has specific qualities. There are four types of air masses:

Continental: relatively dry air masses that form over land

Maritime: relatively humid air masses that form over the ocean.

Polar: cold air masses that form at high latitudes (northern Canada, for example).

Tropical: warm air masses that form at low latitudes (Gulf of Mexico, for example).

Air masses move around, but keep the qualities from the location where they form. when two air masses meet, they create a Front.