Arctic air mass

An Arctic air mass is a body of air originating from the Arctic region that is characterized by cold, dry conditions. Air masses, in general, are large volumes of air with uniform temperature and humidity, extending horizontally for hundreds or thousands of kilometers. They form when the atmosphere remains over a large, uniform surface for a sufficient time to acquire that surface's properties.12

Air masses are classified by their source regions, including Polar (cold) and Arctic (very cold). Continental Polar air masses, for example, form over large land areas like northern Canada and are typically stable and dry. Maritime Polar air masses develop over polar oceans and contain more moisture. The Arctic region itself experiences extreme cold, especially in winter, with temperatures dropping significantly. While solar energy is limited in polar regions, its warming effect is reduced by the high reflectivity of snow and ice.23