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Weather Ch.3
Air masses and fronts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Air mass | A huge body of air that has similar temperature, pressure, and humidity throughout. |
| Tropical (air mass) | A warm air mass that forms in the tropics and has low air pressure. |
| Polar (air mass) | A cold air mass that forms north of 50° north latitude or south of 50° south latitude and has high air pressure |
| Maritime (air mass) | A humid air mass that forms over oceans. |
| Continental (air mass) | A dry air mass that forms over land. |
| Front | The area where air masses meet and do not mix. |
| Occluded | Cut off, as the warm air mass at an occluded front is cut off from the ground by cooler air beneath it. |
| Cyclone | A swirling center of low air pressure. |
| Anticyclone | A high-pressure center of dry air. |