CAPTER VI

AIRMASS, FRONT AND CYCLONE

 A
AIR MASSES
 1. Introduction

a. Definition : An air mass is a large parcel of air with fairly consistent properties (such as
temperature, and moisture content) throughhout.
b. Thus, air that has been over a warm surface becomes warm and air that has been over a
cold surface becomes cold.
AIR MASSES

CHARACTERISTIC SOURCES OF AIR MASS KIND OF AIR MASS/AIR MASS TYPES

Temp. Humidity Latitude
TEMPERATURE HIGH PRESSURE Warm a.m(w) maritime a.m.(m) Equatorial a.m(E)
HUMIDITY Cold a.m(k) Continental a.m (c) Tropical a.m. (T)
LAPSERATE Arctic/Antarctic a.m.(A)
Polar a. m (P)
NOTES :
1) Air that has been over a warm surface becomes warm and that has been over a cold surface becomes cold
2) Air that has been over water becomes moist and air over land tends to be comes dry
3) Continental (c) is large land areas and will make an air mass dry.
4) Maritime (m) is large areas of ocean and will make an air mass moist
5) Tropical (T) is areas close to the equator and will make an air mass warm
6) Polar (P) is areas close to the poles and will make the air mass cold
 HIGH PRESSURE
over over Source of air mass
ocean continent
(Moist air) (Dry air)

Stability of air Stability of air

1. Stable air 2. Unstable air 1. Stable air 2. Unstable air

Stratiform Cumuliform Difficult to form clouds

clouds clouds
(Ns;St;As) (Cu; Cb) Haze/Hazy Dust devil/
Sand storm/
Dust storm
Rain or fog Showers Thunderstorm

(rain-showers) Local wind + Regional wind

Regional wind Sea wave(wave) + Swell wave(swell)

Swell wave Combination wave

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 MODIFICATION OF AIRMASS

Tropical airmass (T)

over ocean (m)

1.From low latitudes to high latitudes

a. Stability b. Clouds d. Weather

warm airmass
stratiform clouds rain
The temperature drops
density rises Mist/Fog
more severe air
downdraft….stable air mTw
poor visibility ….. No turbulence

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 Tropical airmass (T)
over ocean (m)

2.From high latitudes to lower latitude

a. Stability b. Clouds d. Weather

cold airmass
Convective clouds showers/Thunderstorm
The temperature rises
Cumuliform clouds a. showers
density drops b. lightning
Cumulonimbus ( Cb ) c. downburst
the air becomes lighter d. micro/macro
burst
updraft….speed is not the same ride e. gusty/squall
wind
Good visibility turbulence mTk

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 Tropical airmass (T)

over continent ( c )

3.From low latitudes to high latitudes

a. Stability b. Clouds d. Weather

warm airmass
no clouds haze/hazy
The temperature drops
density rises
more severe air
downdraft….stable air
poor visibility ….. No turbulence

cTw

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 Tropical airmass (T)
over continent ( c )

4.From high latitudes to lower latitude

a. Stability b. Clouds d. Weather

cold airmass
no clouds sandstorm
The temperature rises dust storm
dust devil
density drops

the air becomes lighter

updraft….speed is not the same ride cTk

Good visibility turbulence

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 B
FRONT & CYCLONE
( EXTRA TROPICAL CYCLONE )

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 B. FRONT

1. INTRODUCTION
Definition :
- a front is the boundary between two air masses.
- when two airstreams coming from different sources meet, we find a front.
- as air masses move out of their source regions, they come in contact with other air
masses of different properties. The zone between two different air masses is a frontal
zon or front.
-in Meteorology, generally, the interface or transition zone between two air masses of
different density.
- A front is the dividing line at the erath’s surface between air mass of different
temperature
Discontinuities :
When you pass through a front, the change from the properties of one air mass to
those of the other is sometimes quite abrupt. Abrupt changes indicate a narrow frontal
zone.

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 Discontinuities Across The Front
1. Temperature
The amount and rate change is partial indication of the front intensity
• Strong / Sharp are accompanied by abrupt and sizeable temperature change
• Weak / Diffuse front are characterized by gradual and minor change in
temperature
2. Dew Point
• Gives rough indication of the Relative Humidity
• Dew Point themselves can also indicate the position of the front
3. Wind
• Change in direction anticlockwise in northern hemisphere
• Flying from warm to cold air:
Wind Velocity change abruptly, wind speed are greater in the cold air mass
4. Pressure Change
• Indicate the position of moving point
• Abscrupt changes, the zone of transition is narrow, less than 1 mile
• Front locate along a low press trough

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 Temperature :
Temperature is one of the most easily recognized discontinuities across a front.

Dew point :
Dew point temperature is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

Wind :
Wind always changes across a front.

Pressure :
A front lies in a pressure trough, and pressure generally is higher in the cold air.

When you cross a front directly into colder air, pressure usually rises abruptly.

When you approach a front toward warm air, pressure generally falls until you cross
the front and then remains steady or falls slightly in the warm air.

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 B. TYPES OF FRONTS

1. Stationary front ---- Quasi Stationary front

is a front which has no appreciable motion.
It is shown on a weather map as a blue and red line or :

2. A warm front ....... Stratiform clouds ..... Wx : rain/fog

is one that moves in such a direction that warmer air replaces colder air.
It is shown on a weather map as a red line or :

3. A cold front.....Squall line ....Cumuliform clouds + Cb...Showers + thunderstorm

is one that moves in such a direction that colder air replaces warmer air.
It is shown on a weather map as a blue line or :

4. An occluded front
Is a front which is formed when acold front overtakes a warm front.
It is shown on a weather map as a purple line or :

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Stationary Front
EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONE STRUCTURE AND
DEVELOPMENT
Surface Structure and Development
Structure and Cloud System of
The Fronts