FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)WeatherEasy
A pilot is briefed that an air mass over the flight route formed over a warm, moist tropical ocean and has not moved far from its source region. What characteristics should the pilot expect from this air mass?
- AWarm temperatures with high moisture content
- BExtremely cold air with low moisture content
- CVery dry air with large temperature swings
- DCold, dry air with excellent visibility
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Warm temperatures with high moisture content
An air mass takes on the temperature and moisture characteristics of its source region; a tropical ocean source produces warm, moist (maritime tropical) air.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Describes an arctic source region, not tropical.
- C. Describes a continental desert source, not an ocean source.
- D. Describes a polar/continental source, not tropical ocean.
Air Mass Source Regions
An air mass acquires temperature and moisture properties from the surface over which it forms and remains for an extended period.
- Maritime = moist; continental = dry
- Tropical = warm; polar/arctic = cold
- Source region must be large and have uniform surface conditions
Memory trick: "mT" = moist Tropical — think warm ocean spray.