What distinguishes maritime air masses from continental air masses?

Maritime air masses are characterized by their moisture content, which is significantly higher than that of continental air masses. This distinction arises from the fact that maritime air forms over oceans and large bodies of water, where it acquires humidity through evaporation. As a result, maritime air is typically associated with increased cloud formation and precipitation.

On the other hand, continental air masses develop over land, where the evaporation process is limited. Consequently, these air masses tend to have lower humidity levels, making them drier than maritime air. This difference in moisture content is crucial for understanding weather patterns, as the moisture from maritime air can lead to more unstable and dynamic atmospheric conditions compared to the typically more stable conditions associated with continental air.

Understanding the nature of these air masses is fundamental for meteorology and helps in forecasting various weather phenomena, leading to different climatic impacts in regions influenced by these distinct air masses. Thus, the classification based on moisture content is essential in distinguishing between maritime and continental air masses.