What type of air mass is classified as cold and forms at high latitudes?

The classification of a cold air mass that forms at high latitudes appropriately aligns with the continental Arctic air mass. This air mass originates over cold land surfaces, typically in the Arctic regions, and is characterized by its low temperatures and relatively dry conditions.

Continental Arctic air masses are responsible for frigid weather when they move southward, influencing temperatures and weather patterns over the areas they traverse. They are distinct from maritime air masses, which form over the oceans and tend to be moister. The cold and stable nature of the continental Arctic air mass can lead to clear skies and low humidity, making it a significant factor in meteorological phenomena in high-latitude regions.

In contrast, the other options represent different characteristics and sources of air masses: tropical air masses are warm and originate from lower latitudes; maritime Arctic air masses are cold but moist, forming over the Arctic Ocean; and maritime polar air masses are cool and can also be moist, but originate from oceanic regions at mid to high latitudes rather than directly from the Arctic land.