air mass

views updated Jun 11 2018

air mass(airmass) A large body of air (sometimes of oceanic or continental proportions) that is identified primarily by an approximately constant wet-bulb-potential temperature (i.e. the lowest temperature to which the air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into it). The temperature and humidity characteristics of an air mass, which are roughly the same within the one air mass at a particular latitude and height, are modified by and modify the atmospheric environment through which the air mass passes.

air mass

views updated May 08 2018

air mass (airmass) Large body of air (sometimes of oceanic or continental proportions) identified primarily by an approximately constant wet-bulb-potential temperature (i.e. the lowest temperature to which the air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into it). The temperature and humidity characteristics of an air mass, which are roughly the same within the one air mass at a particular latitude and height, are modified by and modify the atmospheric environment through which the air mass passes.