Here's a breakdown:
* Air mass: A vast body of air that has relatively uniform temperature and humidity throughout.
* Properties: These include temperature, humidity, and stability (how likely it is to rise or sink).
* Surface under it: The surface where the air mass forms, like a vast ocean or a desert, imparts its characteristics to the air mass.
Examples:
* Maritime Polar (mP): Forms over cold oceans, bringing cool, moist air.
* Continental Polar (cP): Forms over cold land, bringing dry, cold air.
* Maritime Tropical (mT): Forms over warm oceans, bringing warm, moist air.
* Continental Tropical (cT): Forms over warm land, bringing hot, dry air.
Air masses play a crucial role in weather patterns. They can move across vast distances, bringing changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind.
