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Air Masses and Fronts
online meteorology guide


Graphic by: Yiqi Shao

The purpose of this module is to introduce air masses, where they originate from and how they are modified. Clashing air masses in the middle latitudes spark interesting weather events and the boundaries separating these air masses are known as fronts. This module examines fronts, with detailed explanations about cold fronts and warm fronts. Finally, different types of advection are introduced; temperature, moisture and voriticity advection. The Air Masses and Fronts module has been organized into the following sections:

Sections
Last Update: 07/27/97
Air Masses
Air masses that commonly influence weather in the United States.

Fronts
Boundaries separating air masses. Includes warm fronts, cold fronts, occluded and stationary fronts and dry lines.

Advection
Introduces advection and describes the differences between warm and cold advection.

Acknowledgments
Those who contributed to the development of this module.


Terms for using data resources. CD-ROM available.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.