gaseous envelope of the planet, called the atmosphere, playing a key role in the creation of ecological systems and climate.It also performs an important protective function, protecting the Earth from the effects of various solar radiation and from the attacks of small celestial bodies that are simply burned in its dense layers before reaching the surface.The atmosphere is very dynamic and heterogeneous structure of the gas.Formed in the depths of its large air masses have a direct and decisive influence on the climate regime as the individual regions of the globe, and the entire planet.
huge volumes of air formed in the tropospheric layers (lower atmosphere), for its size is quite comparable with the mainland or the oceans.These formations are huge cradle of powerful cyclones, tornadoes and enormous destructive power of tornadoes.The movement of air masses from one region of the globe to the other determines the climate regime and weather conditions in these areas.And they often carry natural disasters.
Each giant mass of air, which has the same properties (degree of transparency, temperature, humidity, dust and other foreign bodies), acquires the quality and characteristics of the area over which it was formed.Moving toward the other regions, the air masses are not only changing their mode of weather, but also gradually transformed themselves by acquiring climatic features that are characteristic of these areas.
clear illustration of this dynamic atmosphere can serve as air masses of Russia, which during its circulation in the vast expanses of the country through several climatic zones, often manage to completely change their properties.More than half of Russian territory has been influenced by air masses formed over the Atlantic.They bring the bulk of the precipitation in the European part of the country, and in the Siberian regions of warm Mediterranean cyclones largely mitigate the winter cold.
in the complex process of general atmospheric circulation, air masses of different types have a clear and close relationship.Thus, air masses, formed over cold areas of the earth's surface, colliding with warmer fronts mixed with them and thus constitute a new weather front with completely different characteristics.Especially strong this effect is expressed in the temperate zone in the invasion of her cold Arctic air.
mixing with the warm Atlantic atmospheric fronts, they form a new air mass, which, except for cooling, are cumulus clouds and bursts of heavy rain.Sometimes the cold atmospheric fronts, passing the territory of Russia and met with warm air masses reach the southern regions of the European continent.But in most cases they are still detained foothills of the Alps.
But in Asia there is often free flow of arctic air over vast areas up to the mountain ranges of southern Siberia.And this is due rather cold climate in these regions.
