Explore what happens when cold and warm air masses collide
Weather is created by the movement and interaction of air masses of different temperatures.
Created and produced by QA International. © QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. www.qa-international.com
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Created and produced by QA International. © QA International, 2010. All rights reserved. www.qa-international.comDifferent types of clouds form at different altitudes.
Transcript
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NARRATOR: Air masses are gigantic atmospheric volumes with very specific temperature and humidity characteristics. When two different air masses come into contact, they don't mix. They push against each other along a line called a front. When a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, the warm air rises since it is lighter. At high altitude it cools, and the water vapor it contains condenses. This type of front is called a warm front. It generates nimbostratus clouds, which can result in moderate rain. On the other hand, when a cold air mass catches up with a warm air mass, the cold air slides under the warm air and pushes it upward. As it rises, the warm air cools rapidly. This configuration, called a cold front, gives rise to cumulonimbus clouds, often associated with heavy precipitation and storms.
As air masses move, pushed by winds, they directly influence the weather in the regions over which they pass. In this way, they help to circulate heat and humidity in the atmosphere.
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NARRATOR: Air masses are gigantic atmospheric volumes with very specific temperature and humidity characteristics. When two different air masses come into contact, they don't mix. They push against each other along a line called a front. When a warm air mass meets a cold air mass, the warm air rises since it is lighter. At high altitude it cools, and the water vapor it contains condenses. This type of front is called a warm front. It generates nimbostratus clouds, which can result in moderate rain. On the other hand, when a cold air mass catches up with a warm air mass, the cold air slides under the warm air and pushes it upward. As it rises, the warm air cools rapidly. This configuration, called a cold front, gives rise to cumulonimbus clouds, often associated with heavy precipitation and storms.
As air masses move, pushed by winds, they directly influence the weather in the regions over which they pass. In this way, they help to circulate heat and humidity in the atmosphere.
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