General

Considerations Associated with Weather Movement

Air Mass moves From Source -- Original characteristics are modified by properties of surface
over travel. Source Region Affecting Western Europe
MOVING TO WARMER LOCATION:
--Air mass warmed from below
3) Polar Maritime (mP) 6) Polar Continental (cP) -- Summer
--Increase the ELR
--Air Mass becomes more Unstable 2) Tropical Continental (cT)
MOVING TO COOLER LOCATION:
--Air mass cooled from below
--Decrease in ELR
--Air mass becomes more Stable

AIR MASS FOLLOWING BODY OF WATER:

--Moisture Gain

AIR MASS FOLLOWING BODY OF LAND:

--Loose Moisture

If we Know:

-- Initial Source
--Nature of region it moves over it sits

ESTIMATION OF GENERAL WEATHER CHARACTERISTICS IS POSSIBLE. 3 Questions to ask:

E.g. Polar Maritime Air Mass Traveling Southward: 1)Where did the air mass start from? 3 Questions to ask: 3 Questions to ask:
--Warms 2)What was its track?
--Becomes Unstable 3) Where did it end up? 1)Where did the air mass start from? 1)Where did the air mass start from?
--Maritime -- Gain of Moisture
--Produce Significant Cumuliform Cloud
--Showery Activity
--Good Visibility --Polar Region --Warm and Dry air in Central Europe, Russia or near east.
E.g. Tropical Maritime Air Mass Traveling Northward: --Very Cold and Dry -- Have wide expanses of land
--Coolss
-- Warm up significantly in land in summer.
--Becomes Stable 1) Tropical Maritime (mP) 2)What was its track?
--Low Stratiform Type Cloud
--Drizzle or Rain 2)What was its track?
--Poor Visibility
Route:
--Heads Southwards Route:
Winter: Cold -- Warmer Sea and Warmer Land --Towards Western Europe
--Over Warmer Atlantic --Flows overland, Near Constant Latitude
--Warms --Little Modification produces:
--Increase in Humidity --Warm Dry
--Hazy Conditions in Europe

3) Where did it end up?

-- Moving to Land: 3) Where did it end up?
--Warmer Area -- Moving over Land:
3 Questions to ask: --Warmed up from below --Hazy Conditions and
Result for Route: -- Dry Europe
1)Where did the air mass start from? --Until UK:
Stability: Unstable --Move over Sea
--Sub Tropical High Pressure Belt Over the Oceans. --Collect Water
-- E.g. Azores High Result: Cumus or Cumulonimbus Clouds.
--Instable Layer Through Warmer Land
--Air Warms -- Very Moist due to Maritime Source and Precipitation: Showery
--Convective Cloud
Maritime Track Visibility: Good

2)What was its track? 4) Arctic Maritime (mA)

7) Polar Continental (cP) -- Winter
-- Maritime Track -- Builds Up Moisture

3) Where did it end up?

--Arriving to Cooler Land
--Cooled From Below
Result:

Stability: Stable
Humidity: High
Weather:
--Reach Condensation
--Fog or Low cloud
--Drizzle and Poor visibility in Winter
--Surface Heating removes weather phenomenon in 3 Questions to ask:
summer Questions to ask:
1)Where did the air mass start from?
Note: 1)Where did the air mass start from?
Air from the Atlantic subtropical high moving west toward the --Winter Air Mass ONLY
United States from the Bermuda high travels across warmer --Much Colder than Europe --Cold and Dry air in Central Europe, Russia or near east.
sea causing instability so that any lifting by surface heating, --Less MOisture even its saturated.
orographic lifting or frontal lifting can lead to cumuliform cloud
and thunderstorms 2)What was its track?
2)What was its track?
Route:
Route: --Very Cold,
--Heads Southwards
Saturated but not enough since it is cold.
3) Where did it end up?
2) Tropical Continental (cT) --Clear Conditions in Europe leading to Hard Frosts
--Hard Frost especially over night
--Over Northsea approaching to UK:
3) Where did it end up? --Picks moisture from Warm Sea
-- Moving to Land: Causes instability
-Warmer Land --So much over the UK
--Air becomes Unstable
--Cumuliform Clouds develop
--Snow showers will form

5) Returning Polar Maritime (rmP)

3 Questions to ask:

1)Where did the air mass start from?

--Africa or Southern Europe

--Warm Low Humidity source region.

2)What was its track?

Route 1:
--Mainly over land
--Little addition of moisture in transit.

Route 2:
3 Questions to ask:
--Over Mediterinian Sea
1)Where did the air mass start from?
3) Where did it end up?
--Moving to HIGH LATITUDES:
--Source: Polar
--Cooled From Below
Result for Route 1:
2)What was its track?
Stability: Stable
VERY LOW DEW POINT Route:
Result: No Clouds --Extended Route across a long sea track
Collects a lot of moisture
Result for Route 2: --Moving South -- Very Unstable in Low Levels
--Moving North -- Very stable in Low Levels
Same as Route 1 because air is very dry.
Prevent Cloud Formation. 3) Where did it end up?
-- Middle Layer:
Weather: --Unstable Characteristics
--High Temp. --Finding Altocumulus Catellanus clouds here.
--CLoudless Skies
--Visibility Reduced due to Dust Particles carried. --Widespread Instability not possible:
--Require significant uplift to force air through lower level of stability.