Question

If the lowercase letter k appears at the end of an air mass identification code, what can be said about the changes likely to happen within that air mass?

1) The air mass is likely to become more unstable.
2) The air mass is likely to become more stable.
3) The air mass will not undergo any air mass modifications.
4) The expected air mass modifications are impossible to predict.

Answer 1

The lowercase letter 'k' in an air mass code suggests that the air mass is likely to become more stable as it moves from higher to lower elevation and warms adiabatically.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the lowercase letter k appears at the end of an air mass identification code, the air mass is likely to become more stable. This is because the letter 'k' stands for katabatic, which indicates that the air mass is moving from a higher elevation to a lower one. As it descends, it often warms adiabatically, meaning without heat transfer with the environment, which tends to stabilize the air mass, making it less likely to produce clouds and precipitation.