AIR MASS Definition & Meaning

air mass

noun

a body of air covering a relatively wide area, exhibiting approximately uniform properties through any horizontal section.

air mass

noun

a large body of air having characteristics of temperature, moisture, and pressure that are approximately uniform horizontally

air mass

A widespread body of air that originates over a large area of land or ocean and assumes the temperature and humidity of that area, with characteristics distributed fairly evenly throughout the horizontal layers of the mass. Air that stands over the Caribbean Sea, for example, becomes a warm, humid maritime tropical air mass, while air that lies in the Arctic regions of northern Canada takes on the cold and dry characteristics of its surroundings and becomes a continental polar air mass. When air masses of differing properties come into contact in the middle latitudes, they frequently generate storm fronts.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of air mass¹

First recorded in 1890–95

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The extreme weather, part of a bitterly cold air mass that has descended on the south and eastern US, is forecast to linger over the next couple of days.

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The contrast between this extremely cold air mass and much milder air further south is going to "supercharge" the jet stream.

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The Santa Ana winds, which originate inland from cool, high-pressure air masses in the Great Basin, routinely affect Southern California this time of year and help create wildfire conditions.

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The weather will start to cool down on Saturday as a cold front pushes southwards, with the air turning progressively colder into next week as an Arctic air mass becomes established.

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A weather front crossing the UK on Sunday will bring a change in air mass.

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