Lesson 2: Air Masses and Fronts
After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:
a. differentiate air masses from fronts
b. describe different types of fronts
c. explain how fronts affects the weather
DISCUSSION:
Giant bodies of air called air masses are always moving and bumping into each other. Cold air and warm air do not mix easily
because they have different densities. Instead, a boundary forms between these air masses. This boundary which separates the two
air masses is called a front.
An air mass is a large volume of air that is relatively uniform (horizontally) in temperature and water vapor concentration over
hundreds of kilometers. Air masses are generally identified with the regions over which they develop. Two examples are continental
polar and maritime tropical air masses. While air masses can persist over their formative regions for a considerable length of time,
they often move across regions. As air masses move from one region to another, the air mass characteristics are modified by the
underlying surface. For instance, as cold, dry "arctic air" moves over an ocean surface it gains heat and moisture.
Major weather changes occur along the boundaries between the different air masses. In reality, these boundaries are transition
zones that for practical purposes can be considered as discontinuities or frontal surfaces. Owing to the general circulation of the air,
the frontal surfaces are in equilibrium whenever they form a small angle with the horizontal. A frontal surface may therefore be
defined as a transition-boundary separating two air masses of contrasting properties (temperature and humidity). Simply put, fronts
form when one kind of air mass enters an area occupied by another kind of air mass.
Fronts can be classified geographically and also according to the motion of the air masses involved:
Geographical Classification
The formation of fronts occurs from time to time in widely different regions over the earth's surface. However, it follows from
what has been said about frontogenesis that the development of fronts occurs most frequently in certain geographical regions,
particularly, where deformation fields prevail with suitable temperature gradient. Regions favorable to frontogenesis are usually found
along the boundaries of the four major air masses. The fronts along these boundaries are called artic, polar, and intertropical front
according to their mean positions.
Classification According to Motion of Air
This classification is based primarily on the displacement of fronts and the resultant temperature changes. Four basic types are
recognized by this classification: cold front, warm front, occluded front and stationary front
How Does Air Pressure Affect Weather?
Remember that air produces pressure. However, air pressure is not always the same everywhere. Areas with different pressures
can cause changes in the weather. These areas may have lower or higher air pressure than their surroundings. A cyclone is an area
of the atmosphere that has lower pressure than the surrounding air. The air in the cyclone rises. As the air rises, it cools. Clouds can
form and may cause rainy or stormy weather.
An anticyclone is an area of the atmosphere that has higher pressure than the surrounding air. Air in anticyclones sinks and gets
warmer. Its relative humidity decreases. This warm, sinking air can bring dry, clear weather. Cyclones and anticyclones can affect each
other. Air moving out from the center of an anticyclone moves toward areas of low pressure. This movement can form a cyclone. The
figure below shows how cyclones and anticyclones can affect each other.
COMPREHENSION CHECK QUESTIONS:
Directions: Copy and answer on a short bond paper, save it as pdf and sent it via Google Classroom.
1. How are fronts and air masses related?
2. What are the four types of fronts? How are these fronts developed?
3. How do fronts affect the weather?
4. In your own words, how does air pressure affect the weather?
5. What kind of weather does cyclone and anticyclone cause?
AUTHENTIC TASK:
Create a laboratory worksheet that will allow the students to discover how warm and cold fronts work. Use the following outline:
1. Name, Grade and Section, Score, Date
2. Title
3. Introduction
4. Objectives
5. Procedure
6. Results and Discussion
7. Generalization
8. Answer Key
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
✓ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4lg8UfY5DM
✓ https://www.metlink.org/resource/air/#2.1
