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Oceans, Weather and Climate Study Guide
“I Can” statement
Student Responses
1. What is a low
pressure system?
Air comes together and circulates up counter clockwise, something is
pushing up against the air pushing down (air pressure) to make it not
push down as much.
2. What weather is
generally associated
with low pressure?
Clouds = Precipitation = severe thunderstorm –if rapid lifting of warm
moist air occurs. Usually found on a cold front.
3. How does air move
in a low pressure
system?
Air comes together and circulates up counter clockwise
4. What is a high
pressure system?
When air pushes down and circulates clockwise. Usually associated
with no clouds, could cause heat waves/droughts.
5. What type of
weather is generally
associated with high
pressure?
Fair weather, no clouds
6. How does air move
in a high pressure
system?
Air circulates down clockwise
7. What type of
condition occurs when
a high pressure
system stays over one
place over a long
period of time?
drought or heat wave
8. What is a cold
front and what type
of weather does it
produce?
Cold air mass moving into warm air mass, produces precipitation
(usually short) because it pushes moist warm air up making clouds.
Sometimes violent/severe thunderstorms/tornados.
9. What is a warm
front and what type
of weather does it
Warm air mass moving into cold air mass, produces precipitation over a
large area. Clouds and rain usually in front of warm front.
Convection allows warm air to rise and cold air to sink because of
density.
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produce?
10. What season is
responsible for the
most severe weather
in the US and why?
Spring-cold air from the north (Canada) meets warm moist air from
the south (Mexico). Tornado alley is in center of USA.
11. What conditions
are necessary for a
hurricane to form?
1. Warm ocean water
2. Strong Coriolis Effect
12. What seasons do
hurricanes form and
why?
Late summer early fall, that’s when ocean water is warmest (water
heat capacity)
13. What time of
day would a tornado
most likely occur?
Why?
Afternoon to night, when the atmosphere heats up most
3. Low pressure system –spins counterclockwise
14. What happens to
It lifts, cools (adiabatic lifting), condenses and precipitates, dry on
an air mass when it
other side of mountain (desert). Called the Orographic effect.
hits a mountain range?
15. How do clouds
form?
Air rises and cools (adiabatic lifting), condenses on condensation nuclei
(small particle)
16. Describe the
process of convection
in the atmosphere.
Warm air rises, cool air sinks
17. How does living
near a large body of
water affect the
climate?
Small range of temperature, more precipitation, cooler summers,
warmer winters
18. How does latitude
affect climate?
As you move further from the equator, it gets colder. Elevation also
affects it. The higher the elevation, the colder the climate.
19. What is the
greenhouse effect?
When greenhouse gases like CO2 cause heat to get trapped in the
earth’s atmosphere keeping the temp. higher than it would be
otherwise. Not a bad thing. Has nothing to do with global warming.
Africa climates w/s
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20. Describe
radiation from the sun
and how it causes the
greenhouse effect.
50% of the sun’s radiation is absorbed by the earth, the heat is then
re-radiated to the atmosphere because the absorb infrared is emitted
from the Earth.
21. What are
examples of
greenhouse gases?
CO2, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide
22. What are possible
causes of climate
change?
Humans activity, plate tectonics, orbital changes, volcanic activity,
natural event
23. What are possible
effects of climate
change?
Higher temps, wilder weather, more droughts, changing precipitation,
less snowpack, melting glaciers, shrinking sea ice, thawing permafrost,
increased ocean acidity, warmer oceans, rising sea level, animals and
flowers changing habits, changes in farming productivity, Mr.
Carmichael sweating more…
24. What are 3
examples of climate
change indicators?
Higher temps, wilder weather, more droughts, ocean rising (because of
glaciers melting and thermal expansion), etc.
25. Identify 3 things
that may decrease
temperatures by
reflecting sunlight
back into space.
Snow, ice, glaciers, ash, clouds, Mr. Dalton’s head
26. What is the
connection between
climate change and
carbon dioxide
emission?
As more CO2 is released into the atmosphere since the Industrial
Revolution, the average global temp has increased at least 1 degree,
causing worldwide climate changes
27. What are 3 ways
you can reduce carbon
dioxide emissions?
Walk or ride a bike instead of using a car, turn off electronics when
not using them, recycle, plant more trees, hold your breath…
28. Difference
between weather and
Weather happens every day outside, climate is the average weather
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climate?
over a long period of time.
29. Difference
between fronts and
air masses.
Air masses are wind that push fronts. Fronts are the beginning of a
temperature change.
30. Which city will
most likely have
thunderstorms/
precipitation? A B C
31. Which city would
most likely have
conditions for a
drought? A B C
32. Which city would
most likely have
conditions for a
tornado? A B C
B
A
C
33. Which city would
most likely have a
hurricane? A B C
34. Which city would
have the warmest
climate? A B C
35. Which city would
have the least amount
of clouds? A B C
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Know these words definitions:
Weather
Climate
High & Low Pressure
Air Mass
Front
Greenhouse Effect
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