MIDLATITUDE WEATHER SYSTEMS
PART I: THE SETTING, AIR MASSES & FRONTS

Summer 2001

To discuss the basis of air mass classification and to differentiate among the various major air mass types.
To list two criteria that an air mass source region must meet.
To identify the various air masses that regularly form over or invade North America and discuss the typical weather conditions associated with these air masses.
To describe the processes that contribute to air mass modification, identifying those conditions that determine the degree of air mass modification .
To list at least two criteria involved with the analysis of a front on a surface weather map.
To identify the conditions needed for frontogenesis and frontolysis.
To compare and contrast warm fronts, cold fronts, stationary and occluded fronts in terms of their structure and associated weather.

Unit continues as Midlatitude Weather Systems: The Extratropical Cyclone

The Air masses and fronts module from Weather World 2010 (Univ. of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign).

Last revision 6 August 2001

Produced by Edward J. Hopkins, Ph.D.

Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 53706

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