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Air Masses

Notes:

The air on the earth is not uniform. Like regions form masses of that have like properties. Think of these like the blobs in a 70s Lava Lamp. There are 4 types of Air Masses that bring us most of our weather.

mP : These are the Alaska storms. In winter they bring us cold rain.

mT: These are the Winter Pineapple Express storms. This air mass is warm and wet bringing CA heavy rain. As we will see we are generally protected the effects of this air mass except in winter.

(Forgive East Coast Bias of my referenced Drawing)

cP: These appear in Winter and bring us our nights of clear fridge air

cT: The dry continental air mass is lurking near us for most of the year. This brings us the dry offshore winds.

Off the right side of the map is another air mass responsible for our summer monsoon rain storms. When the winds set up just right they suck moisture from the Gulf of Mexico into the Great Basin and California. That triggers summer weather.