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The Movement of Air Masses
transporting warm air northward and colder air southward
Counterclockwise winds associated with cyclones
transport
heat and moisture from lower to higher latitudes and play a
significant role in the movement of
air masses.
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As a cyclone intensifies,
(the central pressure drops),
counterclockwise winds around the
low pressure center also intensify, transporting the
air masses around
the center of circulation.
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By superimposing fronts over the
low pressure center and the
air masses,
a top view of a midlatitude cyclone and accompanying air masses
might resemble something like the diagram below:
Southerly winds
east of the low transport warm and moist air northward and
this moisture often contributes to the
development of precipitation.
A warm front marks the leading edge
of this warm, moist air mass.
Behind the low, northerly
winds transport colder and drier air southward, with a
cold front marking the leading edge
of this colder, drier air mass.
associated winds
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on satellite images
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