air mass
Noun
Meaning
a large body of air with uniform characteristics horizontally
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Examples
“As a result of a very cold air mass, two preliminary record-low temps were set this morning,” meteorologists said — at Paso Robles Municipal Airport, which hit 21 degrees, and at Santa Barbara Airport, which tied its record of 32 degrees.
In principle, if no outside temperature change affects this area (e.g. a warm air mass ), the raised albedo and lower temperature would maintain the current snow and invite further snowfall, deepening the snow–temperature feedback.
In addition, the higher density air mass sweeping in behind the cyclone strengthens the higher pressure, denser cold air mass.
A warmer air mass moving over a cooler one can "shut off" any convection which may be present in the cooler air mass.
However, cumulonimbus clouds are most common in tropical regions. citation Life cycle or stages In general, cumulonimbus require moisture, an unstable air mass, and a lifting force (heat) in order to form.
Examples of genetic classification include methods based on the relative frequency of different air mass types or locations within synoptic weather disturbances.