An air mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is mostly uniform in temperature and moisture
. Air masses can extend thousands of kilometers in any direction and can reach from ground level to the stratosphere, which is 16 kilometers (10 miles) into the atmosphere
. They are defined by their temperature and humidity, and cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles
. Air masses adapt to the characteristics of the surface below them, such as land or sea
. There are four basic types of air masses, classified according to their source regions with respect to latitude
:
- Polar (cold) : These air masses originate in polar or subtropical latitudes and are characterized by cold temperatures
- Arctic (very cold) : These air masses are even colder than polar air masses and typically form over the polar regions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
- Equatorial (warm and very moist) : These air masses originate in the tropical latitudes and are warm and very moist
- Tropical (warm) : These air masses are less moist than equatorial air masses and are typically found in the subtropical latitudes
Air masses can be further classified based on their continental or maritime source regions
:
- Continental air masses : These air masses are dry and typically form over interior regions of continents
- Maritime air masses : These air masses are moist and form over large bodies of water, such as oceans
Air masses play a crucial role in the Earth's weather and climate, as they influence temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns in various regions
