All About Climate and Weather
Whats the weather today?
SOME FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT WEATHER
There are several factors that affect the weather conditions of an area. These factors include the temperature, the wind, the air moisture (humidity), the cloudiness, and the atmospheric pressure.
Air Masses
An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout. The best source regions for air masses are large flat areas where air can stall long enough to take on the characteristics of the surface below. Maritime tropical air masses (mT), for example, develop over the subtropical oceans and transport heat and moisture northward into the U.S. In contrast, continental polar air masses (cP), which originate over the northern plains of Canada, transport colder and drier air southward.
Warm Fronts, Cold Fronts and Stationary Fronts
High Pressure and Low Pressure Systems
High Pressure
- Cool Dense air sinking
- Move in a clockwise direction (anticyclones) out from the center
- Associated with clear skies and calm weather
Low Pressure
- Warm moist air rising
- Moves in a counterclockwise direction (cyclones) up towards the center
- Associated with clouds, precipitation, bad weather
High pressure moves to Low pressure creating wind