Temperature Contrast Between Winter And Summer Is Greater For Maritime Tropical Air
1.The average temperature contrast between winter and summer is greater for continental polar air than for maritime tropical air. Explain why.
Maritime tropical air is very warm and humid because its source regions are tropical and subtropical seas. This air mass retains these properties year-round and is responsible for oppressive summer heat and humidity east of the Rocky Mountains. Dry continental polar air develops over the northern interior of North America. In winter, continental polar air is typically very cold because the ground in its source region is often snow covered, length of daylight is short, solar radiation is weak, and radiational cooling is extreme. In summer, when the snow-free source region warms in response to extended …show more content…
Changes may occur in temperature, humidity, and/or stability. Air mass modification occurs primarily by (1) exchange of heat or moisture, or both, with the surface over which the air mass travels; (2) radiational heating or cooling; and (3) adiabatic heating or cooling associated with large- scale vertical movement.
3.Over the Great Plains and Midwest, Pacific air is relatively mild and dry. How does Pacific air acquire these characteristics if it originated over the Pacific Ocean?
Because it rose and descended over several mountain ranges before getting to the Great Plains and Midwest. The last range it passes is the Rocky Mountains. As the air descends from the mountains, it warms up and becomes drier. When air does this over the Rocky Mountains, it is called the Chinook Winds, which bring warm and dry air to the central USA.
4.The cloud and precipitation pattern associated with a cold front is usually narrower than the cloud and precipitation pattern associated with a warm front. Explain why.
A cold front occurs when a cold air mass SLAMS into a warm air mass. As a result, the boundary between air masses becomes bunched up, and is narrower. The resulting precipitation falls in this band, but more of it falls in a small
Maritime tropical air is very warm and humid because its source regions are tropical and subtropical seas. This air mass retains these properties year-round and is responsible for oppressive summer heat and humidity east of the Rocky Mountains. Dry continental polar air develops over the northern interior of North America. In winter, continental polar air is typically very cold because the ground in its source region is often snow covered, length of daylight is short, solar radiation is weak, and radiational cooling is extreme. In summer, when the snow-free source region warms in response to extended …show more content…
Changes may occur in temperature, humidity, and/or stability. Air mass modification occurs primarily by (1) exchange of heat or moisture, or both, with the surface over which the air mass travels; (2) radiational heating or cooling; and (3) adiabatic heating or cooling associated with large- scale vertical movement.
3.Over the Great Plains and Midwest, Pacific air is relatively mild and dry. How does Pacific air acquire these characteristics if it originated over the Pacific Ocean?
Because it rose and descended over several mountain ranges before getting to the Great Plains and Midwest. The last range it passes is the Rocky Mountains. As the air descends from the mountains, it warms up and becomes drier. When air does this over the Rocky Mountains, it is called the Chinook Winds, which bring warm and dry air to the central USA.
4.The cloud and precipitation pattern associated with a cold front is usually narrower than the cloud and precipitation pattern associated with a warm front. Explain why.
A cold front occurs when a cold air mass SLAMS into a warm air mass. As a result, the boundary between air masses becomes bunched up, and is narrower. The resulting precipitation falls in this band, but more of it falls in a small