Middle School Earth and Space Science : Describe the motion of air masses

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

Coldfront

The image above depicts the motion of two air masses in what kind of front?

Possible Answers:

a stationary front

a warm front

an occluded front

a cold front

Correct answer:

a cold front

Explanation:

The answer is "a cold front."

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower  than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a  cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #2 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

Warmfront

The image depicts the motion of two air masses in what kind of front?

Possible Answers:

an occluded front

a warm front

a stationary front

a cold front

Correct answer:

a warm front

Explanation:

The answer is "a warm front."

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower  than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a  cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #3 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. What kind of weather is caused when warm air raises steadily above the cooler air mass?

Possible Answers:

gentle showers

clear skies

thunderstorms

a mix of clear skies and rain showers

Correct answer:

gentle showers

Explanation:

The answer is "gentle showers."

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower  than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a  cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #1 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

What type of front forms when a cold front catches up with and overtakes a warm air front?

Possible Answers:

a stationary front

a cold air mass

a warm air mass

an occluded front

Correct answer:

an occluded front

Explanation:

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower  than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a  cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #1 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

 What type of front is occuring when warm humid air of a warm air mass is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms?

Possible Answers:

an occluded front

a stationary front

a warm front

a cold front

Correct answer:

a cold front

Explanation:

The answer is "a cold front."

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower  than a cold air mass. The warm raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a  cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #6 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

What weather condition is most likely to be the result of two air masses with greatly different air pressures colliding?

Possible Answers:

snow

high winds

high humidity

gentle showers

Correct answer:

high winds

Explanation:

The answer is "high winds" because the types of air masses were not defined and wind is caused by differences in air pressure.

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #7 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

Which of the following best describes how air masses move across the United States?

Possible Answers:

The movement of air masses depends on the temperature of each state in the United States.

The jet stream moves air masses north and south across the United States.

The westerlies move air masses from west to east but sometimes get deflected by the jet stream.

The trade winds cause air to move from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts.

Correct answer:

The westerlies move air masses from west to east but sometimes get deflected by the jet stream.

Explanation:

The answer is "The westerlies move air masses from west to east but sometimes get deflected by the jet stream."

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air rises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #2 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

Which of the following is defined as "a relatively narrow band of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere moving from west to east caused by Earth's rotation"?

Possible Answers:

The Easterlies

The Westerlies

Trade Winds

The Jet Stream

Correct answer:

The Jet Stream

Explanation:

The answer is "The Jet Stream"

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air rises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

 

Example Question #9 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

Which of the following moves air masses from west to east, due to prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 35 and 65 degrees latitude?

Possible Answers:

The Jet Stream

The Easterlies

Trade Winds

The Westerlies

Correct answer:

The Westerlies

Explanation:

The answer is "The Westerlies."Prevailing Westerlies are the winds in the middle latitudes between 35 and 65 degrees latitude. They tend to blow from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east steering extratropical cyclones in this general manner.

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air rises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

 

Example Question #10 : Describe The Motion Of Air Masses

What is the result of a cool air mass and a warm air mass converging low to the ground?

Possible Answers:

there are less clouds

stormy weather patterns

a sunny clear sky

winds become calm

Correct answer:

stormy weather patterns

Explanation:

The answer is "stormy weather patterns"

A cold front moves faster than a warm air mass. The warm humid air is pushed up and results in a short period of heavy rain and possibly violent thunderstorms.

A warm front moves slower than a cold air mass. The warm air raises steadily above the cooler air mass and causes gentle rain showers for longer periods of time.

An occluded front is a combination of two fronts that form when a cold front catches up and overtakes a warm front. The result is a mix of rain showers and thunderstorms.

A stationary front is the boundary between two air masses when neither is moving. Clear skies to partly cloudy skies may result, with occasional light rain.

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