Which one of the following pairs of properties of typical air masses is correct? Air Mass Source Region

Air masses are classified based on their source regions, which determine their temperature and moisture characteristics. The first letter of the classification indicates moisture: 'm' for maritime (moist/oceanic) and 'c' for continental (dry/land) [2]. The second letter indicates temperature: 'T' for Tropical (warm), 'P' for Polar (cold), and 'E' for Equatorial (very warm) [3]. Maritime air masses originate over oceans and are characterized by high humidity [2]. Specifically, Maritime Tropical (mT) or Maritime Equatorial air masses form over warm oceans in the tropical or equatorial zones, making them warm and moist [4]. Option 2 is incorrect because Maritime Polar air masses form over cold high-latitude oceans, not warm tropical ones [3]. Options 3 and 4 are incorrect because 'Continental' air masses originate over land and are typically dry, not over oceans [2].

Sources

1. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 28: Temperate Cyclones > Air Masses Based On Source Regions > p. 396
2. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 28: Temperate Cyclones > Maritime Polar Air Masses (mP) > p. 397
3. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 9: Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems > Air Masses > p. 81
4. [4] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 28: Temperate Cyclones > Source Regions > p. 395