Question

Match the air mass that is most likely to exist over the following areas:

1.Canadian Shield - cP
2.Gulf of Mexico - mT
3.Aleutian Islands, Alaska - mP
4.Chihuahua, Mexico - mT. a. cP
b. mT
c. cat
d. mP

Answer 1

The Canadian Shield is associated with a continental Polar (cP) air mass, the Gulf of Mexico and Chihuahua, Mexico with a maritime Tropical (mT) air mass, and the Aleutian Islands, Alaska with a maritime Polar (mP) air mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

To match the air mass most likely to exist over the given areas, we should understand the characteristics of the air masses and the climate zones of the regions mentioned.

• The Canadian Shield is a large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks that form the ancient geological core of the North American continent. The weather here is more likely to be influenced by a continental polar (cP) air mass, which is cold dry air.
  
• Over the Gulf of Mexico, you would find a maritime Tropical (mT) air mass, which is warm and humid.
  
• The Aleutian Islands, Alaska, typically have a maritime Polar (mP) air mass resulting in cool and moist conditions.
  
• Chihuahua, Mexico, being inland and toward the south, would more likely experience a maritime Tropical (mT) air mass as well, bringing warm and humid conditions from the sea, although it can mix with the tropical air mass characteristics of the continent.

Factoring in the climate zones, the matching would be as follows:

1. Canadian Shield - cP (continental Polar)
   
2. Gulf of Mexico - mT (maritime Tropical)
   
3. Aleutian Islands, Alaska - mP (maritime Polar)
   
4. Chihuahua, Mexico - mT (maritime Tropical).

It's essential to note that the global pattern of precipitation is influenced by these movements of air masses, and weather maps can help us identify areas of high and low pressure that often correspond with these air masses.