Which air mass is characterized as cold and dry?

The air mass characterized as cold and dry is categorized as cP, which stands for continental polar. This designation indicates that the air mass originates over land (continental) in polar regions, which are typically associated with cold temperatures. Because it forms over land rather than water, it lacks the moisture content that other air mass types might have, resulting in dry air characteristics.

In the context of meteorology, understanding air mass types is crucial for predicting weather patterns. Continental polar air masses can lead to clear, dry weather conditions in regions they move into, especially when they dominate the atmosphere. Other air masses, such as continental tropical (cT), maritime tropical (mT), and maritime polar (mP), have distinct characteristics related to temperature and moisture that do not align with being both cold and dry. For example, cT is hot and dry, mT is warm and moist, and mP is cool and moist.