Air Mass
Air Mass
Air Mass
• An air mass is a defined as a large body of air with very similar characteristics. Generally
speaking, air masses are defined by temperature and moisture parameters.
• Air airmass is a huge body of air, usually 1600 kilometers or more across and perhaps
several kms thick, which is characterized by homogeneous physical properties
(especially temperature and moisture content) at any altitude.
• Identity Characteristics
• Air masses retain their identity even after they have moved far from their source region.
• Also, air masses with different densities, when come to contact with each other, do not
merge into each other but retain their identity.
•Nature of the source region largely determines the temperature and humidity
characteristics of an air mass. When a large volume of relatively stationary air remains
in contact with a vast land or ocean surface it gradually acquires the characteristics of
the concerned surface.
For example vast ice cover in polar region will impart icy coldness to the air mass
lying over it. Again air mass in contact with warm ocean within the tropics, it will be
hot and humid.
cP mP
cT mT
• Thermodynamic • Mechanical
Modification of an air mass resulting from In this type of modification, there is no
the transfer of heat between the bottom of transfer of heat from the air mass to the
an air mass and the surface over which it surface, rather it happens due to movement
moves is known as thermodynamic of the air.it happens in cyclones,
modification. anticyclones, surface friction or due to the
These modification takes place in two meeting of different air masses.
different ways:
a) when air mass is heated from below
b) when air mass is cooled from below
Air Mass Characteristics
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