In what kind of air must air masses form? Still air or windy air?

Question

at least two sentences please

Answer 1

Excellent question. Air masses are of polar origin and form over either continental or maritime regions. If they are mP (maritime polar), they are moist cold air masses and if they are cP (continental polar), they are dry cold air masses. The wind within the air mass does little more than mix the air through turbulence. Finally there is also maritime and continental tropical air masses (moist, warm and dry, warm). Here in mid latitudes the most prominent to affect the east coast of the US are cP air masses, while on the west coast they are mP air masses. The latter often move across the US but due to the underlying surface are greatly modified over time and space before they reach the east coast. The leading edges of air masses are fronts. I hope this helps you understand air mass morphology a little better.

Answer 2

Air masses are large areas with the same characteristics. While it is normal for people in high latitudes to think of air masses as being polar, there are tropical air masses as well. Just as you can have polar continental and polar maritime air, you can have tropical continental and tropical maritime air.

Australia has tropical air masses all year round with a few incursions of polar maritime air to the southern States in winter.