A continental tropical air mass is ____.

A continental tropical air mass is characterized by being hot and dry. This type of air mass forms over land in warm, low-latitude regions, typically in areas such as deserts or semi-arid locations where there's little moisture available. The designation "continental" indicates that it originates over land rather than water, while "tropical" signals that it is derived from warm regions, leading to higher temperatures.

When this type of air mass moves into different regions, it can significantly influence local weather patterns, often leading to warm, dry conditions. Understanding the characteristics of different air masses is crucial in meteorology for predicting weather, as they play a fundamental role in the formation of various weather systems and phenomena.