Question

select the correct answer.
pruitt lives in a city that is typically dominated by a maritime tropical air mass. after listening to the weather update, he learns that a maritime polar air mass is approaching his city. which statement explains this movement of air?
a. air masses move from west to east in the northern hemisphere.
b. air masses move from colder areas to warmer areas.
c. air masses move from high - pressure areas to low - pressure areas.
d. two air masses merge into one and share the properties of both original air masses.

Explanation:

• Option A: The direction of air mass movement (west to east in Northern Hemisphere) is related to global wind patterns but not the primary reason for this specific air mass movement here.
• Option B: Air masses generally move from warmer to colder areas (due to pressure differences), not the other way around.
• Option C: Air masses move from high - pressure areas to low - pressure areas. Maritime tropical air masses are associated with relatively low pressure (warm, moist), and maritime polar air masses (cooler, moist) come from areas of higher pressure compared to the area dominated by maritime tropical. So this explains the movement.
• Option D: Air masses do not typically merge in this way to explain movement; they interact at fronts, but this is not about movement cause.

Answer:

C. Air masses move from high - pressure areas to low - pressure areas.