Download Climate Science Study Guide

Climate & Weather Study Guide
1. Which statement is true?
a. A sea breeze flows from the ocean toward the land at night because the land and ocean lose heat at the same rate.
b. A sea breeze flows from the land toward the ocean at night because the land and ocean lose heat at the same rate.
c. A sea breeze forms at night because the ocean cools faster than the land.
d. A sea breeze forms during the day because the land warms faster than the ocean.
2. How does the sun’s energy affect the movement of global winds?
a. It causes them to curve.
b. It creates areas of warmer air and cooler air.
c. It heats the land and water at the same rate.
d. It brings heavy rains in the summer.
3. Snow and sleet are forms of:
a. transpiration
b. precipitation
c. evaporation
d. condensation
4. All of the following are methods of heat transfer except
a. convection
b. thermal conduction
c. evolution
d. radiation
Matching:
Match the following terms to their definition or description.
5._____radiation
a. transfer of heat by movement or circulation
6._____carbon dioxide
b. winds caused by geographic features and large bodies of water
7._____global winds
c. narrow belt of fast winds that separate warm and cool air masses
8._____jet stream
d. a greenhouse gas
9._____convection
e. transfer of heat by contact through a solid
10.____doldrums
f. winds caused by differences in air pressure and the Coriolis effect
11.____thermal conduction
g. transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves
12.____local winds
h. area at the equator in which there is very little wind
Short answer:
Answer the following questions as completely as possible.
13. What percentage of the earth’s atmosphere is composed of oxygen?_____
14. What percentage of the earth’s atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?_____
15. What does a barometer measure? ____________________
16. What does radar measure and how does it help meteorologists?
17. Name 2 other meteorology tools and what they measure:
1._______________ measures ______________________________________.
2._______________ measures ______________________________________.
18. List the steps of cloud formation beginning with water heating on the earth’s surface:
19. How are clouds classified?
20. Give the alternate meanings for each term:
alto = _______________
meso = ______________
nimbus = _____________
cirro = ____________
21. List the 4 main layers of the atmosphere in order from closest to earth to farthest away:
1.
2.
3.
4.
22. Which layer is the coldest? ___________
23. Which layer is the hottest? ___________
24. Which layer of the atmosphere does weather take place? ____________
25. How does the ozone layer protect life on earth?
26. Explain how the temperature on earth would be different if there was no ozone layer.
27. List 2 ways we can help cut down on the pollution that leads to global warming.
1.
2.
28. Explain the steps of the greenhouse effect using either the car model or the greenhouse model.
29. How is the greenhouse effect different from global warming? How does one lead to the other?
30. What causes wind to move faster? ______________________________________________
31. List the 3 types of global winds.
1.
2.
3.
32. Which global wind is responsible for bringing weather systems across the U.S. to Georgia?_____________________
33. Which global wind is responsible for bringing extremely cold air down to the U.S.? ___________________________
34. Which global wind is responsible for bringing tropical storms and hurricanes our way? ________________________
35. List the 2 types of local winds.
1.
2.
36. Explain the differences between the 2 types of local winds. Use pictures to illustrate your point.
37. Explain how air pressure and temperature change as you climb a mountain.
38. Which cloud produces large thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and sometimes tornadoes?________________________
39. A type of stratus cloud called ____________ occurs when the air above land reaches dew point. Later in the day, it
lifts and often forms stratus clouds in the sky.
40. Which type of severe weather is most powerful and why?
41. Draw the weather map symbol for a cold front below.
Understanding Weather
MATCHING
Match the correct definition with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided.
_____ 1. amount of water vapor in the air
_____ 2. process in which liquid turns to vapor
_____ 3. collection of water droplets suspended in air
_____ 4. area of high pressure where air moves apart and sinks
_____ 5. the temperature to which air must cool to be saturated
_____ 6. process in which water vapor turns to liquid
_____ 7. condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place
_____ 8. area of low pressure where air masses meet and rise
_____ 9. a large body of air with similar temperature and density
_____ 10. area in which two types of air masses meet
MULTIPLE CHOICE
Write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.
_____ 11. What kind of weather does a stationary front bring?
a. drizzly rain followed by clear weather
b. severe storms
c. many days of cloudy, wet weather
d.. cold, dry weather
_____ 12. If there is a tornado warning for your area, you should
a. find a high place to stay.
b. go to a room with no windows.
c. cover your windows with plywood.
d. not listen to the radio.
_____ 13. Which statement about tornadoes is correct?
a. They are a very common part of thunderstorms.
b. Seventy-five percent of the world’s tornadoes occur in the United States.
c. Their danger is mainly from the heavy rains they bring.
d. They are the strongest storms on Earth.
_____ 14. A storm surge is a dangerous part of
a. a tornado
b. a thunderstorm.
c. the water cycle.
d. a hurricane.
_____ 15. Which describes an altocumulus cloud?
a. high, feathery cloud
b. puffy mid-level cloud
c. low storm cloud
d. high cloud made of ice crystals
_____ 16. Isobars help meteorologists by
a. creating an image of weather systems.
b. showing what form precipitation will take.
c. measuring wind speeds.
d. showing high and low pressure areas.
_____ 17. Lightning is an electric discharge between a positively charged area and
a. a rising air mass.
b. a source region.
c. another positively charged area.
d. a negatively charged area
_____ 18. Meteorologists track cyclones and anticyclones because they
a. are dangerous forms of severe weather.
b. help predict stormy or clear weather.
c. help forecast weather weeks in the future.
d. give more accurate facts than fronts
_____ 19. Which statement about hail is correct?
a. It is rain that falls through a layer of freezing air.
b. It may be sent up into the clouds many times.
c. It forms in winter in low stratus clouds.
d. It is a liquid form of precipitation.
_____ 20. Which of the following describes an air mass with the symbol cT?
a. cold and wet
b. cold and dry
c. warm and wet
d. warm and dry
_____ 21. A continental polar air mass forms in
a. the Pacific Ocean.
b. northern Canada.
c. the Gulf of Mexico.
d. the desert Southwest.
_____ 22. How does a warm front form?
a. Warm air becomes caught between cold air masses.
b. Two air masses meet and stay separated.
c. Warm air moves over cold air and replaces it.
d. Cold air moves under warm air and pushes it up.
_____ 23. What kind of weather would an occluded front likely bring?
a. sunny and warm
b. much precipitation in the form of rain or snow
c. thunderstorms
d. cold and dry
TRUE / FALSE
Circle true or false for each given statement.
TRUE / FALSE 24. Warm air molecules move faster and have more room to expand. This allows warm air to hold more
water vapor.
TRUE / FALSE 25. Hurricanes can happen during any severe storm. There is little time to prepare for a hurricane.
TRUE / FALSE 26. Georgia’s climate is warm and moist because of the maritime tropical air mass that blows toward us.
TRUE / FALSE 27. Tornadoes often occur in tornado alley because of the clash between the maritime tropical air from
the Gulf of Mexico and the continental polar air from Canada.
SHORT ANSWER
Explain one of the following in detail. You must use complete sentences.
Wind (Global and Local)
Differences and similarities between tornadoes and hurricanes
Differences and similarities between cyclone and anticyclone weather systems
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