What are "air mass" weather systems?

Air mass weather systems refer to large volumes of air that have relatively uniform temperature and moisture characteristics. These air masses form over specific regions, where they acquire temperature and moisture traits based on the surface beneath them, such as land or water. When an air mass moves, it can bring consistent weather patterns to the areas it travels over, which is a defining aspect of its nature.

The characteristics of an air mass are largely influenced by the source region, such as continental areas leading to dry air masses or maritime areas leading to humid air masses. This uniformity in temperature and moisture leads to predictable weather phenomena associated with the movement of these air masses. Therefore, understanding air masses is crucial for weather forecasting, as they can significantly affect local weather conditions for days at a time, depending on their stability and the dynamics when they interact with other air masses.