| air mass | a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure |
| Tropical | warm air masses formed in the tropics and have low air pressure |
| Polar | air masses formed north of 50 degrees north latitude and south of 50 degrees south latitude |
| Maritime | air masses that form over oceans |
| continental | air masses that form over land, in the middle of continents, and are dry |
| front | the area where the air masses meet and do not mix |
| occluded | the warm air mass is cut off from the ground |
| cyclone | swirling center of low air pressure, from Greek word meaning "wheel" |
| anticyclone | high pressure center of dry air that spirals outward from the center |