APES chapter 4 practice problems

Use Figure 4-2 to determine how much water would fall (in grams/m3) as precipitation if the temperature of the air saturated with water vapor fell from 30o C to 10o C.

20g

Use Figure 4-4. Which position would correspond with Spring in the Northern Hemisphere?

A

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is a region where

A belt of low pressure circles the Earth near the equator and the trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres come together.

What is the overall direction of global air currents at the equator?

Air rises at the equator

Where is upwelling most likely to occur?

Along the west coasts of continents

Use Figure 4-2 to determine what conclusion can be drawn about the relationship between temperature and saturation point?

As temperature increases, saturation point increases exponentially

Which information would you NOT be able to ascertain by reading a climograph?

Average annual humidity

Use Figure 4-8. Which of the zones in the diagram is the stratosphere?

B

After you explain how shutting down thermohaline circulation would affect the temperature of western Europe (in the other essay question- you have to find and answer it first), explain the consequences such a temperature change might have for agriculture in western Europe.

Colder temperatures in western Europe would cause shorter growing seasons and reduced crop production.

Use Figure 4-1 and indicate which of the following has the highest albedo:

Fresh snow

Which of the following statements about the Coriolis Effect is INCORRECT?

Global winds are not affected by the Coriolis effect

Which of the following is true about El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)? I. Upwelling is suppressed off the coast of South America II. This phenomenon is human caused and related to global warming III. The tradewinds weaken, allowing warm water to move eastward

I and III

What factors are used to classify a biome? I. Average temperature II. Average precipitation III. Distinctive plants adapted to area

I, II and III

Use Figure 4-5. In the diagram shown, at what location(s) is/are water sinking? I. 1 II. 2 III. 4

II only

What best describes the temperature of the atmosphere?

It decreases as you increase in altitude in the troposphere

As water freezes or evaporates, what happens to the salinity of the remaining ocean water?

Salinity increases

Which of the following best describes the net primary productivity of an ecosystem?

Net primary productivity is the amount of energy lost through respiration by producers subtracted from the gross primary productivity of an ecosystem.

In a typical forest ecosystem, dead trees and fallen trees are most important because of their role in which of the following?

Providing habitats for wildlife

Use Figure 4-6. What phenomenon does the figure represent?

Rain shadow effect

Boreal forests tend to have a thick layer of organic material but the soil is poor in nutrients. explanation for this?

Relatively low precipitation rates and cold temperatures slow decomposition

Country with the largest area of boreal forests

Russia

This biome is characterized by long dry seasons and is dominated by grasses, shrubs, and grazing animals.

Savanna

An energy transformation occurs and results in increased disorder.

Second law of thermodynamics

Explain how shutting down thermohaline circulation would affect the temperature of western Europe.

Shutting down the thermohaline circulation would reduce the amount of warm surface water flowing from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe and this would cause western Europe to experience colder temperatures.

Use Figure 4-3. A plane leaves the North Pole. Initially, it flies directly south towards point B on the diagram below. Which is the most likely landing site for the plane if it maintains a straight path to the south?

Site A

Which level of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

Stratosphere

Explain why there would be large populations of fish along the west coasts of most continents.

Surface currents separate from one another, causing deeper waters to rise and replace the water that has moved away. These deep waters bring with them nutrients from the ocean bottom that support large populations of producers. The producers then support large populations of fish.

Use Figure 4-7. According to the drawing, what biome would you expect to find in an area with an average temperature of 10o C and 100 cm of precipitation annually?

Temperate seasonal forest

Which of the following is the best description of a region's climate?

The average temperature and precipitation over several decades

What happens to air as it rises?

The pressure decreases and it expands in volume

In which level of the atmosphere does weather occur?

Troposphere

Which of the following is not true about the sun's energy heating the Earth?

The sun's rays are more strongly reflected in the lower latitude regions

Which of the following is the Earth's most diverse biome?

Tropical Rainforest

Which biome is threatened by global warming causing the melting it's permafrost?

Tundra

Country with the largest area of temperate deciduous forest

United States

Use Figure 4-5. If Northern glaciers melt near location 2, what consequence may occur?

Water would become less salty, preventing sinking

In Mediterranean climate regions like portions of California, a wetter-than-normal winter often leads to greater severity of fires the following summer. This seeming paradox occurs because increased rain leads to

greater accumulation of chapparal biomass