Chapter 14, Problem 1GST

To determine

Whether a wintertime mP air mass or a wintertime cP air mass is likely to be colder and whether a summertime cT air mass or a summertime mT air mass should be warmer.

Answer to Problem 1GST

Since the land cools down at a faster rate and becomes colder than water, the continental polar air masses will be colder compared to the maritime polar air masses. Likewise, since the land gets heated more rapidly than the ocean, continental tropical air might be warmer relative to maritime tropical air.

Explanation of Solution

The air masses that have high latitudes towards the poles of the Earth as its source region are designated as polar (P) air masses, while those that originate in low latitudes are termed as tropical (T) air masses. When polar specifies cold, tropical designates warm.

The specific heat capacity of water is more compared to the land. This means that land absorbs and loses heat much rapidly and easily than ocean. As a result, the land cools and warms up faster compared to the oceans.

The faster cooling of land is the reason why the continental polar air masses are expected to be colder compared to the maritime polar air masses. While the dry air cools faster, the humid air is capable of generating heat by condensation.

Likewise, the faster warming up of the land is the reason for the continental tropical air masses to be warmer relative to maritime tropical air. The maritime tropical air mass holds the temperature-regulating effects of cool ocean water so as to avoid becoming hotter like the continental air masses.