Table of Contents
How does a warm air mass move?
In general, cold air masses tend to flow toward the equator and warm air masses tend to flow toward the poles. This brings heat to cold areas and cools down areas that are warm.
What happens when air masses move toward other air masses?
When a new air mass moves over a region it brings its characteristics to the region. Moving air masses cause the weather to change when they contact different conditions. For example, a warm air mass moving over cold ground may cause an inversion.
What happens when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass?
The boundary where a cold air mass meets a cool air mass under a warm air mass is called an occluded front. At a front, the weather is usually unsettled and stormy, and precipitation is common.” The cold air pushes the warm air upwards, which may be followed by precipitation or storms due to moisture in the air.
What happens when warm and cold air masses move?
The leading edge of a warm air mass advancing into a region occupied by a cold air mass is called a warm front. A cold front occurs when a cold air mass advances into a region occupied by a warm air mass. If the boundary between the cold and warm air masses doesn’t move, it is called a stationary front.
When do two air masses of the same temperature collide?
In an occluded front, a cold front overtakes a moving warm front, like an army swarming over a fleeing enemy. Convergence: When two air masses of the same temperature collide and neither is willing to go back down, the only way to go is up.
What happens when hot air and cold air meet?
Weather Fronts 1 Warm Fronts. A warm front will form if hot air pushes into the cold air, pushing it across the Earth’s surface. 2 Cold Fronts. When cold air pushes into warm air, a cold front is created. 3 Stationary Fronts. When warm and cold fronts meet, neither is strong enough to overtake the other. 4 Occluded Fronts.
What happens to the air as a warm front approaches?
As the warm front approaches, there may be fog or increasing rainfall, and thunderstorms may form, as well. This is due to the (usually) higher humidity in the air of warm fronts compared to that of cold fronts.