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How Would You Be Able to Identify a Continental Polar Air Mass?

Continental polar air masses are born in the icy tundra of northern Canada. During the winter these cold fronts can move south and plunge temperatures well below freezing. Due to the lack of sunlight in the north during the winter, the air has little opportunity to warm up. When this air is brought south with the winds, it has the ability to quickly introduce northern Canadian weather conditions to the United States.

Instructions

- 1
  Stand outside or read the temperature from inside. Note if the weather is cold. Look at a calendar. If it is winter, the cold could be from continental polar air masses.
- 2
  Observe the direction of wind. If the wind is coming from the north, you are experiencing a continental polar air mass.
- 3
  Note the humidity. If it is very dry, this enforces that you have a continental polar air mass.
- 4
  Check the pressure. High pressure is another clue of a continental polar air mass.

Nature