Õhuhulga

õhuhulga is an Estonian term that translates to "air mass" in English. It refers to a large body of air that has consistent temperature and humidity characteristics over a broad area. These characteristics are acquired as the air mass stagnates over a particular region for an extended period, typically days or weeks. For example, an air mass forming over a cold, high-latitude landmass will be cold and dry, while one forming over a warm, tropical ocean will be warm and moist.

As air masses move, they can bring significant weather changes to the regions they affect. The interaction between different air masses is a primary driver of weather phenomena. When a warm air mass encounters a cold air mass, the boundary between them is called a front. Weather associated with fronts can include precipitation, changes in wind, and temperature shifts. Meteorologists study air masses to forecast weather patterns and understand climate variations. The classification of air masses is based on their temperature (polar or tropical) and their moisture content (continental or maritime).