Overview
Air masses are large bodies of air that take on the characteristics of the surrounding area or source region. A source region is an area in which the air remains stationary for a few days. Air masses are generally classified by their characteristics. In addition, as air masses move, they can be modified when they move over a region unlike their source region. The boundaries between air masses are called fronts.
Examples
| Classification | Definition |
|---|---|
| Continental Arctic (cA) | Cold, dry |
| Continental Polar (cP) | Cool, dry |
| Continental Tropical (cT) | Hot, dry |
| Maritime Polar (mP) | Cool, humid |
| Maritime Tropical (mT) | Warm, humid |