Download Worksheet 2

Earth Science
Chapter 12
Worksheet 2
Name ____________________________
Block ____________________________
In the space to the left, write true if the statement is true, if the statement is false, change the
underlined word to make it true
__________________
1. Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena
__________________
2. Weather is the current state of the lithosphere
__________________
3. Long-term variations in weather for a particular area make up the
climate of the area
4. The tropics are hotter than the poles because the sun strikes this area
of Earth more indirectly
__________________
Circle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer
5. A large parcel of air that takes on the characteristics of the area over which it forms is a(n)
a. Cloud
b. Air mass
c. Source region
d. Wind
6. An air mass takes on its source region’s
a. Temperature and humidity
b. Landforms
c. Clouds and wind
d. Elevation
7. Maritime air masses originate over
a. Clouds
b. Oceans
c. Glaciers
d. Mountains
8. When an air mass travels over land or water that has different characteristics than those of its
source region, it undergoes
a. Air source change
b. Air mass modification
c. Air pressure modification
d. Temperature inversion
Circle T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false
T
T
T
T
T
F
F
F
F
F
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
An isopleth is a line that connect points of equal or constant values
Lines of equal pressure are called isobars
Isobars that are far apart indicate a small difference in pressure and light winds
Contour lines are lines of equal temperature
Isotherms are used to identify temperature gradients and, consequently, frontal systems
Use the words in the table below to complete the passage
intertropical convergence zone
trade winds
southwest
low pressure
Prevailing westerlies
rotation
polar jet stream
polar easterlies
North America
Coriolis effect
northeast
jet streams
The (14) _______________________ deflects moving air to the right in the northern hemisphere and
to the left in the southern hemisphere. The cause of this is Earth’s (15) __________________. Each
hemisphere has three basic wind systems. The first, at 30O latitude north and south, is known as the
(16) ________________________. There, air sinks, warms, and moves toward the equator from
northeast to southwest in the northern hemisphere and from southeast to northwest in the southern
hemisphere. When the air reaches the equator, it rises, then moves back toward 30O to start the cycle
again. These winds from both hemispheres converge at the equator. They are forced upward,
creating an area of (17) __________________. This area near the equator is called the (18)
____________________________. The second wind system, called the (19) __________________,
flows between 30O and 60O latitude north and south of the equator. Its circulation pattern is opposite
that of the wind system discussed above. These winds are responsible for the movement of many
weather systems across much of (20) _____________________________. The third wind system,
the (21) _________________________ lies between the poles and 60O latitude. In the northern
hemisphere, these winds flow from the (22) ____________________ to the (23) ________________.
They flow in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. Narrow bands of fast, high altitude,
westerly winds called (24) ___________________ flow at the boundaries between wind zones in the
middle latitudes. These bands of wind steer weather systems in the middle latitudes. The most
important one, the (25) ___________________, separates the polar easterlies from the prevailing
westerlies.
Complete the table by filling in the type of weather system described
Description
Weather System
26. Cold, dense air that displaces warm air, forcing the warm air up
______________________
27. Narrow region separating two air masses of different densities
______________________
28. Advancing warm air that displaces cold air
______________________
29. Low-pressure system that heavily influences weather in the middle
latitudes
30. Cold air mass that moves rapidly and overtakes a warm front
______________________
31. Two air masses that meet and do not advance
______________________
______________________
Complete the table by checking the correct column for each statement
High-pressure
System
Statement
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Low-pressure
System
Characterized by sinking air
Characterized by rising air
Air flows toward the center
Air flows away from the center
Air moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere
Air moves counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere
Associated with fair weather
Associated with clouds and precipitation
Match the terms to the correct definition
____
____
____
40. An instrument that measures the height of cloud layers and estimates
cloud cover
41. An instrument that measures wind speed and direction
42. An instrument that measures temperature
b. barometer
c. anemometer
____
43. An instrument that measures air pressure
d. hygrometer
____
44. A balloon-borne package of sensors that gathers upper-level weather
data
45. An instrument that measures relative humidity
e. ceilometer
____
a. thermometer
f.
radiosonde
Use the terms below to complete the passage
digital forecast
short term
long term
analog forecast
There are two major types of weather forecasts. A(n) (46) ______________________ relies on
numerical data. It is the main method used in modern weather forecasting. Another type of forecast,
the (47) ____________________, involves comparing current weather patterns to patterns that took
place in the past. Regardless of the forecasting method, all forecasts are more reliable in the
(48) ______________________. Forecasts become less reliable as they attempt to predict
(49) _______________________ weather changes.