Air Masses
Definition:
Large areas of air with similar properties
(temperature, humidity, etc.)
The biggest air masses may occupy an entire
continent.
They move slowly and predictably
Their movement results in the day-to-day changes
of weather
Classifying Air Masses
Air masses are classified two ways:
1. Classification by humidity (c, m)
c = continental (dry)
m = maritime (moist)
2. Classification by temperature (A, P, T)
A = Arctic (cold)
P = Polar (cool)
T= Tropical (warm)
The two symbols are then combined to form the 5
types of air masses.
Types of Air Masses
cA
Continental Arctic (dry, cold air)
Example source region: Northern Canada
cP
Continental Polar (dry, cool air)
Example source region: Prairie provinces
cT
Continental Tropical (dry, warm air)
Example source region: Southwest USA
Types of Air Masses
mP
Maritime Polar (moist, cool air)
Example source region: Atlantic provinces
mT
Maritime Tropical (moist, warm air)
Example source region: Southeast USA
Air Mass Source Regions
Figure 8.1
Fronts
A front marks the boundary between two air masses.
Fronts are drawn on maps in 2-D, but they are three
dimensional phenomena
Cold Fronts
They are drawn as a blue line with triangles
indicating the direction of travel.
Cold, dry air is located behind the cold front.
They may produce a squall line of thunderstorms
during the warmer months of the year.
Cold fronts are the most violent types of fronts.
Why?
Because they rapidly force air upward
Cold Fronts
Figure 8.8
Warm Fronts
They are drawn as a red line with semicircles
indicating the direction of travel.
Warm, moist air is located behind the front.
They move more slowly than cold fronts and are
less violent than cold fronts
Warm Fronts
Warm fronts typically move at half the speed of
cold fronts.
They typically bring light to moderate rain.
Warm fronts can be hazardous in Winter.
Why?
Because they often cause freezing rain and ice
pellets
Warm Fronts
Figure 8.9
Mid-Latitude Cyclones
They are responsible for most precipitation in the
mid-latitudes (30° to 60°).
They are composed of three parts:
- a centre of low pressure
- a warm front
- a cold front
An occluded front eventually develops later in the
life cycle of the mid-latitude cyclone
Life Cycle of a Mid-Latitude Cyclone
Life Cycle of a Mid-Latitude Cyclone
Mid-latitude cyclones often form along stationary
fronts.
Early stages: stationary front, frontal wave
Life Cycle of a Mid-Latitude Cyclone
Middle stages: open wave, mature
Well-developed fronts circulating around a low-
pressure centre characterize a mature mid-latitude
cyclone.
Life Cycle of a Mid-Latitude Cyclone
When the cold front joins the warm front, the
warm air is cut-off from the surface.
Late stages: advanced occlusion, cut-off cyclone
Cyclogenesis
Definition:
The birth and development of a mid-latitude cyclone.
Cyclogenesis often occurs in specific geographic
locations.
Ex: along mountain ranges, major coastlines, and
stationary fronts
Movement of Mid-Latitude Cyclones
They travel across the continent in a generally
eastward direction at 50 km/h.
Their movement is influenced by the jet stream
and winds aloft.
Figure 8.10
MLC Movement: Case Study
April 15:
- the mid-latitude cyclone is centered over
Wisconsin
- heavy rains, high winds, and overcast skies are
located near the low-pressure centre
MLC Movement: Case Study
April 16:
- the system is moving to the northeast
- the occlusion occurs as the low moves over Northern
Ontario
MLC Movement: Case Study
April 17:
- the system continues tracking northeastward
- the occlusion extends eastward of the low
MLC Movement: Case Study
April 18:
- the system is over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean
Tornado
Definition:
A rotating column of air blowing around intense low
pressure where the column is touching the ground.
A rotating column not touching the ground is called
a funnel cloud.
Tornado Life Cycle
Tornadoes exist in three defined stages:
Organizational Stage
- wind shear causes rotation to develop
A change in wind speed or wind direction over a
distance
- a funnel cloud protrudes from above
- dust and debris rotate beneath
Mature Stage
- most severe damage occurs at this tage
Rope Stage
- the tornado stretches out and weakens
Tornado Alleys
The U.S. experiences the most tornadoes on Earth.
Canada experiences the 2nd most.
United States Tornado Alley
Oklahoma, Kansa
Canada Tornado Alley
Southwestern Ontario
Figure 8.16
Tornado Alleys
Why do these tornado alleys exist?
They are areas where air masses commonly collide.
They are areas of relatively flat land (this allows for
undisturbed rotation).
Classifying Tornadoes
Enhanced Fujita Scale:
Tornadoes are classified on a scale of EF0 to EF5,
based on the damage produced.
EF5 tornadoes:
Complete devastation wind speed over 322km/h
Less than 1% of tornadoes are classified as EF5
Tornado Formation
Most tornadoes occur in supercell thunderstorms.
Wind shear is an important requirement for tornado
development.
Steps in tornado development:
1. Wind shear creates a rotating horizontal column.
2. Strong updrafts turn the column upright.
Tornado Formation
Hurricane
Definition:
An intense low-pressure system in the tropics with
sustained winds of at least 120 km/h
They are circular in shape and about 500 km in
diameter.
They require water temperature of at least 26°C.
They have very low air pressure (below 975 hPa)
Components of Hurricanes
Eye
A region in the centre with ligt winds and clear to
partly cloudy skies.
Eyewall
A ring of intense storms that whirl around the eye.
Spiral Rain Bands
Rings of tall clouds and
heavy rain that exist
throughout the hurricane
Anatomy of a Hurricane
Hurricane Frequency
Water is warmest in the late
Summer, and this is when
most hurricanes occur.
Official hurricane season:
June 1 – Nov 30
Hurricane Movement
Movement is driven by the trade winds.
Therefore, hurricanes over the Atlantic Ocean move
from east to west.
The speed of hurricanes is typically less than 20 km/h.
They often originate off the west coast of Africa and
then move toward North America
Hurricane Movement
Hurricanes generally exist between 5° and 25° latitude.
Figure 8.19
Classifying Hurricanes
Classification is based on wind speed.
Hurricanes are classified by the Saffir-Simpson Scale
U.S. hurricanes, 1851-2021