Continental tropical (cT) air masses are hot, dry, unstable at low levels and generally stable aloft (upper-level ridge); they originate in northern Mexico. Continental polar (cP) or continental arctic (cA) air masses are cold, dry, and stable originating over northern Canada and Alaska as a result of radiational cooling. (Oklahoma Climatological Survey, 2004)"

The greenhouse effect has been in the news for the last several decades especially with the resulting negative effects it has on climate change and global warming. Generally, the greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that contributes to the survivability of living organisms here on Earth. The earth's atmosphere contains trace gases, some of which absorb heat. These gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide) are referred to as greenhouse gases. (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, 2010) The inability to absorb heat produces abnormal environmental and climatic conditions because the equilibrium has been...
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