What are the three types of air masses?

What are the three types of air masses?

• A. Arctic, Polar, and Tropical
• B. Arctic, Polar, and Continental Arctic
• C. Continental Arctic
• D. Polar only

Answer: (A)

Air masses are large bodies of air that take on the characteristics of their source regions, especially temperature and moisture. The three main temperature-based types are Arctic, Polar, and Tropical. Arctic air masses originate from very high latitudes and are extremely cold. Polar air masses form in subpolar regions and are cold to cool. Tropical air masses come from lower latitudes and are warm to hot. Moisture content adds another dimension (maritime versus continental), which is why you’ll see terms like continental Arctic or maritime tropical—but the standard trio of temperature-based types is Arctic, Polar, and Tropical. That’s why this option is the best choice.

Air masses are large bodies of air that take on the characteristics of their source regions, especially temperature and moisture. The three main temperature-based types are Arctic, Polar, and Tropical. Arctic air masses originate from very high latitudes and are extremely cold. Polar air masses form in subpolar regions and are cold to cool. Tropical air masses come from lower latitudes and are warm to hot. Moisture content adds another dimension (maritime versus continental), which is why you’ll see terms like continental Arctic or maritime tropical—but the standard trio of temperature-based types is Arctic, Polar, and Tropical. That’s why this option is the best choice.