Why is the formation of air masses associated with high pressure systems rather than low pressure systems?

What will be the ideal response?


ANSWER: In order for a huge mass of air to develop uniform characteristics, its source region should be generally flat and of uniform composition with light surface winds. The longer the air remains stagnant over its source region, or the longer the path over which the air moves, the more likely it will acquire properties of the surface below. Consequently, ideal source regions are usually those areas dominated by surface high pressure. They include the ice- and snow-covered arctic plains in winter and subtropical oceans in summer. The middle latitudes, where surface temperatures and moisture characteristics vary considerably, are not good source regions. Instead, this region is a transition zone where air masses with different physical properties move in, clash, and produce an exciting array of weather activity.?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

You might also like to view...

A raindrop that freezes before reaching the ground is called ____

A) snow B) graupel C) sleet D) glaze

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Care and proper management of the world's biomes are necessary to maintain sustainability. However, some ecosystems are in better condition than others. Which one of the following regions appears to be healthiest and best managed today?

A) Tropical forests in South America B) Forests in the United States C) Coral reefs throughout the world D) Mangroves in southeast Asia

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

When the continents were assembled and mountain ranges were matched up, mountains in Scandinavia and the British Isles matched up perfectly with which North American mountain range?

A) Rocky Mountains B) Appalachian Mountains C) Sierra Nevada Mountains D) Olympic Mountains

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Which of the following is correctly matched

A) Normal lapse rate—3.5°C/1,000 m B) Environmental lapse rate—6.4 C°/1000 m C) Dry adiabatic rate—10 C°/1000 m D) Moist adiabatic lape late—15 C°/1000 m

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences