1. What is an air mass, and what conditions are necessary for one to form? 2. Why is an air mass unlikely to form over California? (Hint: There are two reasons.) 3. What is a cold front? What is a warm front? 4. Explain why clouds develop along cold fronts and warm fronts. 5. Describe the pressure and wind patterns of a midlatitude cyclone. Describe the location of fronts and the surface sectors of a mature midlatitude cyclone. 6. Describe and explain the regions of cloud development and precipitation within a midlatitude cyclone. 7. Discuss the four components of movement of a midlatitude cyclone. 8. Explain the process of occlusion. Why does an occluded front usually indicate the death of a midlatitude cyclone? 9. Describe and explain the changes in wind direction, atmospheric pressure, sky conditions (such as clouds and precipitation) and temperature with the passing of a cold front. 10. Describe the pressure patterns, wind patterns and the eye of a tropical cyclone (hurricane). 11. Why do hurricanes weaken when they move over land or over cool water? 12. Why are there no fronts within a tropical cyclone? 13. Why are tropical cyclones common along the east coasts of continents in the midlatitudes, but not along the west coasts? 14. What is a hurricane storm surge, and what causes one? 15. What is thunder?