Fill in the blanks...Air masses MOVE from areas of__________ pressure to ares of ______________ pressure.
Air moves from areas of HIGHER pressure to areas of LOWER pressure.
Air masses MOVE from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
Air masses MOVE from areas of HIGH pressure to areas of LOW pressure.
To understand why air masses move in this way, we need to start with the concept of pressure. Pressure refers to the force exerted by the air molecules on a given area. When air molecules are densely packed, they exert more force and create higher pressure. Conversely, when air molecules are more spread out, they exert less force and create lower pressure.
Now, let's consider air masses. An air mass is a large body of air with relatively uniform temperature and humidity. These air masses can vary in size and characteristics depending on the region they form over, such as a continent or an ocean.
When we have areas of high pressure, it means that the air in that region is denser and has a higher concentration of air molecules. As a result, air mass moves away from this region of high pressure towards areas with lower pressure. This movement occurs because air naturally seeks to establish equilibrium, meaning it wants to balance the differences in pressure.
In contrast, areas of low pressure have fewer air molecules and are less dense. Therefore, air masses move towards regions of lower pressure to fill the void and equalize the pressure distribution.
Overall, air masses move from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure due to the principles of pressure and air flow.