What are the characteristics of an air mass?

The following are the characteristics of air mass:

• It has nearly uniform conditions of temperature and humidity at any given level of altitude.
• It extends thousands of kilometres across the surface of the Earth and can reach from ground level to the stratosphere.
• When winds move air masses, they carry their weather conditions from the source region to a new region.
• Maritime air masses form over the water and are humid. Continental air masses form over land and are dry.

Further Reading:

• General Circulation Of The Atmosphere
• Heating And Cooling Of The Atmosphere