There are four main types of air masses that form in different regions and have distinct temperature and moisture properties: continental, maritime, polar, and tropical. Weather fronts occur when different air masses meet, with three main types being cold fronts, warm fronts, and stationary fronts. Cold fronts move quickly and can produce thunderstorms and cooler temperatures, while warm fronts move more slowly and bring humid conditions and rain. Stationary fronts occur when air masses meet but neither overtakes the other, resulting in prolonged, unchanging weather.

1. Air Masses and Weather Fronts

2. Air Masses EQ: How do meteorologists use air masses and weather fronts to predict our weather? http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_an_air_mass.htm

3. Warm Up Think back to the recent snow storm we had where we were out of school for one week. Which type of air mass do you think caused the snow and why do you think this way?

4. http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_is_an_air_mass.htm An air mass is a large body of air with similar temperature, pressure, and humidity levels throughout.

5. Air Masses Get their properties from spending many days, even weeks, over the same area. Example: If an air mass sits over an ocean for awhile, it becomes humid . If an air mass sits over land , it becomes dry.

6. Air Masses Four types of air masses Maritime Continental Polar Tropical

7. Air Masses Continental Maritime Form over land and are dry Form over water and are moist

8. Air Masses Tropical Form over the tropics (low latitudes) Warm/Hot Polar Form at the polar regions of Earth (high latitudes) Cool/Cold

10. Air masses Why does our weather change? Air masses move! How? Global winds push air masses around the Earth!

11. Air Masses Reflect M- Describe the four types of air masses. I- If you could become an air mass, which would you be and why? U- Look back at the warm up question. Do you agree with your answer? Support your answer with details. S- Create a flag for an air mass and explain why you chose that air mass.

12. Fronts A front is a place where two different air masses meet Three main types A “battle” between air masses Continental Polar Maritime Tropical FRONT

13. Cold Fronts Click for Animation

14. Cold Front Moves quickly and can produce thunderstorms After it moves through, skies will be clear and temperatures will be cooler

15. Cold Front Reflect M- Explain the types of weather associated with a cold front. I- Act out a cold front with a partner. U- A cold front passed through last night. Predict what the weather is like now? S- Create a metaphor: A cold front is like a _______________________. Explain.

16. Warm Front Click for Animation

17. Warm Front Moves slower than cold fronts Brings humid weather and sometimes rains for days After it moves through, temperatures are warmer

18. Warm Front Reflect M- Restate the cause of a warm front. I- Which type of front do you feel is the best and why? U- Compare and contrast warm fronts and cold fronts. S- What would it be like to be a warm front?

19. Stationary Front Click for Animation

20. Stationary Fronts Two air masses next to each other, but neither moves. Weather remains the same for days

21. Stationary Front Reflect M- Summarize the three types of fronts. I- You are charged with studying the effects of air masses and fronts. How would you do it? U-Which type of front do you think is the most destructive and why? S- Imagine you live in a world with only two types of air masses. How would that effect fronts?

22. Become the meteorologist! Use the weather map given to you and what you have learned about air masses and fronts and predict the weather for _______, _______,________,_______. Be sure to include an appropriate temperature and sky conditions (cloudy, sunny, raining, snowing, etc.)