Continental polar air mass
Also called: cP · Topic: Air Masses, Fronts, Cyclones and Thunderstorms · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 9 "Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems"
Meaning
A continental polar (cP) air mass is cold, dry and stable. "Stable" means the air does not rise easily, so it forms few clouds. It forms over snow-covered continents in high latitudes, such as Siberia and northern Canada. The snow reflects sunlight and the land loses heat to the sky, so the air above becomes very cold. In winter, cP air can push far south and bring cold waves.
Example
The Siberian Plain in northern Asia is a classic source region of cP air. In winter, modified cP air reaches north India, in places such as Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and brings cold waves.
Don't confuse with
- Continental arctic (cA) air mass: cA air forms over the permanent ice of the Arctic and Antarctica. It is even colder and drier than cP air.
- Maritime polar (mP) air mass: mP air forms over cold oceans, so it is moist rather than dry.
Related concepts
- Air mass
- Source region
- Maritime tropical air mass
- Continental tropical air mass
- Maritime polar air mass
- Continental arctic air mass