Air masses

1
Air masses the UK climate
Aim To know that the UKs climate is controlled
by air-masses To know that the air-masses we
receive change depending on the season.
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So what is climate?
Starter Copy and complete the Sentence below!
Climate is the average w...... over a period of
time. For example over a m or a season such as
w.. or s..
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So what controls our climate?
The answer has a lot to do with air masses
Air masses are huge blocks of air. They can be
damp or dry, warm or cold, depending on where
they came from and over what type of surface they
have travelled. For example, an air mass that
has travelled over the sea will increase its
moisture content and be more likely to produce
rainy weather.
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So what controls our climate?
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So what influences our climate?
You will need to listen carefully!!
Look at the pictures and listen to the sounds
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Polar Maritime
Arctic
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Polar Maritime
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Tropical Maritime
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Tropical Continental
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Task

• Fill in the gaps on your air-masses map.

Some words to help you east summer wet
south windy hot cold winter ocean
snow Southern west Atlantic dry
Extension Describe the weather today and say
which air-mass you think is responsible.
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Arctic Air masses travelling from the A......
bring very strong, cold w and s..
Polar Maritime Air masses travelling from the
North A o bring cool, w.. and
w.weather.
Continental Air masses travelling from the e
and continental Europe bring d.. weather
that is h.. in the summer and very c.. in
the winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime Air masses travelling over the
Atlantic Ocean from the S. W usually
bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental Air masses travelling from
Africa and S. Europe bring very h and
.. weather in the s.
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Arctic Air masses travelling from the ......
bring very strong, cold and ..
Polar Maritime Air masses travelling from the
North bring cool, .. and
.weather.
Continental Air masses travelling from the
and continental Europe bring .. weather that
is .. in the summer and very .. in the
winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime Air masses travelling over the
Atlantic Ocean from the . usually
bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental Air masses travelling from
Africa and . Europe bring very and
.. weather in the ..
13

• Lets check our answers!

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Arctic Air masses travelling from the Arctic
bring very strong, cold winds and snow
Polar Maritime Air masses travelling from the
North Atlantic bring cool, wet and windy weather
Continental Air masses travelling from the east
and continental Europe bring dry weather that is
hot in the summer and very cold in the winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime Air masses travelling over the
Atlantic Ocean from the South West usually
bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental Air masses travelling from
Africa and Southern Europe bring very hot and
dry weather in the summer
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Plenary climatic regions

• Match the heads and tails!
• The north and Scotland are likely to get lots
  of rain and wind from the Atlantic
• The South East of England is likely to get
  cold winds and snow from the Arctic
• The West of England is likely to get hot and
  dry weather from the continent