Explain the difference between climate, weather and meteorology.
To best synthesize the information that I have mastered throughout Meteorology, I am going to start by summarizing the key vocabulary terms that we discussed in the class. In the next paragraph, I will differentiate between meteorology, weather, and climate as well as show how each is comparable to one another.
When someone refers to the weather, they are talking the state of the atmosphere at that time and location. When refers to the climate they are asking what the average or standard condition of the atmosphere is at a particular location over a long period of time. Meteorology studies weather and climate, and more importantly, how one compares …show more content…
An air mass is defined as a large body of air that has uniform weather characteristics. Those characteristics, temperature and humidity being the most important, are established by the location at which they appear. I am going to begin by explaining how these air masses are categorized, then where they form, and what characteristics are associated with each of them.
The 5 different types of air masses are first categorized by being either continental, which consists of a cooler and dryer atmosphere, or maritime, which is generally warm and moist. Next they are categorized as a Polar, Tropical, or an Arctic air mass depending on where they form. Continental Arctic air masses form north of the Arctic Circle and pole ward. They move southward across Canada and sometimes into the northern United States. These types of air masses bring bitterly cold temperatures and dry air to the area. Continental Polar air masses form over Canada and Siberia. These types of air masses bring cold weather during the winter, but rather pleasant weather during the summer. Continental Tropical air masses form over northern Mexico and the southern United States bringing very hot and dry weather to these areas. Maritime Polar air masses form at the northern Pacific and northwestern Atlantic usually bringing in cold winds and large amounts of precipitation. Lastly, Maritime Tropical air masses occur frequently in all seasons all across the south, southeastern and eastern United States and are characterized by hot and humid conditions. Knowing these different types of air masses, where they form and what type of weather is associated with them will help you identify fronts as well as what type of weather those fronts will