Air Masses

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Air Masses

• Science 10

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Page 468 Questions

1. The equator is the warmest area of the Earth and
   therefore the air over the equator should be
   warmer than air anywhere else on Earth.
2. If the air remained still while the Earth
   rotated, the average wind speed would be about
   300m/s (1000km/h).
3. The rotation of the Earth results in the Coriolis
   effect.

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Page 468 Questions

1. The Coriolis effect leads to air being pushed to
   one side or the other depending on hemisphere.
   In the Northern Hemisphere air flows right while
   in the Southern Hemisphere air flows left.
2. The Jet Stream would be located where the Polar
   Easterlies meet the Prevailing Westerlies (at
   approximately sixty degrees north/south latitude)
3. While flying from west to east, an aircraft can
   use the jet stream to increase its ground speed.

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Page 478 Questions

1. Surface currents are determined by prevailing
   winds, Corilois effect and land masses.
2. Ocean currents can deliver warm/cold air to a
   land mass and also will provide large amounts of
   moisture to the land.
3. Salt concentrations can be changed due to glacier
   melt and evaporation
4. Cool water will rise when the warm water above it
   is displaced by wind currents

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Air Masses

• Air will have different characteristics depending
  on where it forms.
• There are two main regions
• Polar
• Tropical
• There are two main types
• Maritime
• Continental

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Air Masses
Name Symbol Characteristics
Continental polar cP Cool and dry
Maritime polar mP Cool and moist
Continental tropical cT Warm and dry
Maritime tropical mT Warm and moist
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Test 1 Tuesday Feb 23/10

• Chapter at a Glance Page 481
• Chapter 14 Review Page 482
• 1-16, 20 and 27-28
• In addition Chapter 13 Review Page 450 and
  Chapter at a Glance Page 449