air masses that influence the UK
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- Created on: 21-03-15 15:16
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- Air masses which influence the UK
- An air mass is defined as a large area of air that has a similar temperature and humidity level to the source area it originated from
- Polar Maritime - it will bring, cold, wet weather. this is because it has originated from a polar region, it will also bring wet weather with it because it is maritime, indicating it has had to travel over ocean area to reach Britain and in the process picked up a lot of moisture
- This will start of cold but as it moves towards Britain, I will pick up moisture from the sea, it brings unstable, cool and showery conditions. Possibly snow over NW Scotland
- Polar continental - It will bring cold, dry weather, because it originates from the polar regions, because it is continental it hasn't had to travel over much ocean area and therefore wont have picked up to much moisture, meaning it will be dry.
- In the winter, this air mass is cold so as it travels towards Britain it warms, causing it to become more unstable. Meaning it brings cold conditions in the winter. In the summer the air mass becomes cooler as it travels towards Britain, therefore becomes more stable and brings dry conditions with it.
- Artic or Artic Maritime, are masses that orginate in the artic, this means that they will bring extremely cold temperatures with them and because it must travel over ocean area, it will being moisture too
- This air mass starts of very cold and warms only slightly as it travels towards the UK, and it also picks up moisture so it brings very cold temps in winter with snow over N Scotland.
- Tropical Continental - Because it originates from the tropics, it will bring arm air with it, because it comes from a continental area, it doesn't have to ravel over much ocean area and therefore wont bring moisture with it
- when it is travelling towards Britain, the base cools and therefore becomes more stable, it brings hot and dry conditions however it only affect the British isles in the summer,
- Tropical Maritime - This will be warm because it originates from the tropics, however it will also be wet because it must travel over ocean area and therefore pick up moisture as it travels
- This air mass becomes more stable as it travels but cooling is suffient to cause the moist air to condense at dew point temperature, meaning it brings, mild wet weather in the winter and warm damp weather in the summer.
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