A body of air which exhibits fairly uniform temperature and moisture characteristics.

E.g., Cold & Dry, Cold & Moist, Warm & Dry, Warm & Moist

Boundaries between air masses of different temperatures.

Always an area of low pressure (so air is rising--cloudy).

Geographic location from which an air mass originates.

Imparts the temperature and moisture characteristics of the air mass.

An air mass that is in the 20-35 degree N/S range.

Considered "warm" (nearer the subtropical point).

(1-Air Mass Classification)

Air mass located in the 0-20 degree N/S range.

Considered "Warm" (Nearer the subtropical point).

(Air Mass Classification-2)

Air mass located in the 50-60 degree N/S range.

Considered "Cold."

(Air Mass Classification-3)

*These cold air masses are colder, the higher the number. Numbers 1 and 2 are warm air masses.

Air mass located above 65 degrees N latitude.

Considered "Cold."

(Air Mass Classification-4)

*These cold air masses are colder, the higher the number. Numbers 1 and 2 are warm air masses.

Air mass located below 65 degrees S latitude.

Considered "Cold."

(Air Mass Classification-5)

*These cold air masses are colder, the higher the number. Numbers 1 and 2 are warm air masses.

Moisture Classification (of an Air Mass):

Over land/dry

Moisture Classification (of an Air Mass):

Over ocean/moist

Air Mass Practice:

What two combinations are warm and moist?

Air Mass Practice:

How would you describe cT (Continental Tropical)?

Air Mass Practice:

How would you describe Maritime Polar (mP)?

Air Mass Practice:

What two combinations are REALLY cold, and dry?

Air Mass Practice:

A cP (Continental Polar) can be described as what?

mT, mP, and cP

(Maritime Tropic, Maritime Polar, and Continental Polar)

mP and mT

(Maritime Polar and Maritime Tropical)

False.

It can happen on a regional level.

Mid-Pacific (off Baja)

The Gulf of Mexico

The Mid-Atlantic

Gulf of Alaska

North Atlantic

mP and cP

(Maritime Polar and Continental Polar)

Fill in the blank answers:

1. Polar

2. the Rossby Wave

3. the Polar Jet Stream

Fill in the blanks:

In Winter, ___(1)___ Air Masses travel down to us via ___(2)___, developing in ___(3)___.

Fill in the blank answer:

1. mP (Maritime Polar)

Fill in the blank:

In Winter, the West Coast of the US is affected by ___(1)___, which comes from the Gulf of Alaska.

False.

Every single winter storm that hits the West Coast of the US comes from THE GULF OF ALASKA.

True or False:

Every single winter STORM that hits the West Coast of the US comes from Central Canada.

The Midwest and Eastern US get cP (Continental Polar) air masses.

These are MUCH colder than the Maritime conditions that touch us.

The Rockies act as a wall that BLOCK the cP (Continental Polar) from reaching the West Coast.

Also, the Westerly Winds help to protect us as well.

Why are winters in the US Midwest and East much colder than the winters by us, in the LA area?

What air mass combo is it there, and what keeps it from reaching us here?

False.

mT and cT are dominant during the summertime and >> cT << is an air mass that DOES NOT exist at all in the wintertime.

True or False:

mT and cT are dominant during the summertime, and mT is an air mass that DOES NOT exist at all in the wintertime.

Cumulos clouds or cumulonimbus

Because warm air rises due to its lower density and instability

1. Winds (strong, persistant) come from S/SW.

Decrease in pressure

Cumulus horizon

2. Lowest pressure

Winds from E/SE

Cumulonimbus directly overhead

3. Winds from W/NW

Pressure increases

Rapid clearing

Cooler temp

Describe the typical weather sequence associated with cold fronts.

1. Before a front arrives into region.

2. When the front is overhead

3. After the front passes.

In CA, we got a lot of cold fronts without clouds. There is not enough moisture to make the typical cold front weather conditions.

What are these fronts called?

1. Cirrus clouds (48前)

Winds from S/SW

Decrease in pressure

2. Clouds get lower, thicker

Stratiform-type clouds

Pressure continues to decrease

3. Nimbostratus overhead

Steady, gradual rainfall

Winds from E/SE

Pressure at lowest

4. Very GRADUAL clearing

Winds come from W/NW

Pressure rises (slowly)

Temp warm

Describe the typical weather sequence with a warm front:

1. Before it arrives

2. As it gets closer

3. Once it is overhead

4. After it leaves

They are the same--

1. S/SW; 2. E/SE; 3. W/NW

What are the wind patterns (direction them come from) during a typical weather sequence with

1. Cold front

and

2. Warm front

Cementation

(A Chemical rock bond)

Compaction

(Mechanical bond)

This type of bond leaves rocks to fall apart easily if under stress.

Weak bond.

E.g., squeeze mud into a ball and let it dry.

Fusion

(Mechanical bond)

Rock bond--heat and pressure;

Strong!

A naturally-occuring compound made up of elements that are arranged in an orderly, repetetive structure.

E.q., quartz, halite (salt), etc.

Lava is found at the surface,

Magma is material that's under the surface.

MOLTEN MATERIAL:

What is the difference between lava and magma?

Extrusive igneous:

Lava cools & solidifies at surface

Intrusive igneous:

Magma cools & solidifies below surface

It was formed at great depth (magma chamber)~6 to 7mi below surface

Cooled slowly

Longer crystals

These rocks form several thousand feet to a mile or so below the surface.

They cool at a medium rate of cooling

They have visible (medium-sized) crystals.

Calcium carbonate

SHELL always goes with CALCIUM

E.g., limestone

If there is lots of shell and coral in a rock, what kind of rock is it and why?

Give one example.

1. Light in color

2. High in silica

3. Lower density

4. Found on land

1. Made up of fossils of diatoms and rads

2. Chirt, flant, and aggot (e.g., silitious sedimentary)

3. Rich in silica (natural glue)

4. Glue each other together at ocean bottom