Chapter 12

Rapid changes in elevation produce sharp changes in climate in ____, making the delineation of climatic regions impossible in Köppen's climate classification system. a. tropical moist climates b. moist mid-latitude climates with mild winters c. polar climates d. highland climates

d. highland climates

Average monthly temperatures that exceed 32 °F but remain below 50 °F is characteristic of the ____ climate zone. a. subpolar (Dfc) b. polar ice cap (EF) c. alpine (An) d. polar tundra (ET)

d. polar tundra (ET)

Microclimate refers to the ____. a. climatic conditions inside a house or building b. climate of a valley or forest c. climatic changes that occur over a short period of time d. small climatic region near the ground

d. small climatic region near the ground

Which climate type normally has the largest annual range in temperature? a. dry b. tropical c. humid-subtropical d. subpolar

d. subpolar

Savanna grass would most likely be associated with which climate type? a. tropical monsoon (Am) b. tropical rainforest (Af) c. semi-arid (BS) d. tropical wet-and-dry (Aw)

d. tropical wet-and-dry (Aw)

Deserts that experience low clouds and drizzle tend to be found mainly ____. a. on the western side of continents b. in the rain shadow of a mountain c. in the center of continents d. on the eastern side of continents

a. on the western side of continents

In Köppen's system of classifying climates, dry climates are designated by the letter ____. a. A b. B c. C d. D

b. B

Phoenix, Arizona experiences large annual temperature ranges, but scant rainfall year-round with a slight maximum in July and August. What would be the cause of this bump in precipitation? a. Southerly winds sweep over the region brining afternoon showers and thunderstorms from the summer monsoon. b. Warm, moist air rises along the windward side of the Rocky Mountains producing frequent rain bands. c. The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) migrates to its most southern position in the summer months. d. The cool summer nights causes warm, moist air to condense producing frequent flash flood events.

a. Southerly winds sweep over the region brining afternoon showers and thunderstorms from the summer monsoon.

Which climatic region will likely have the largest daily temperature range? a. arid climate b. Mediterranean climate c. tropical wet climate d. east coast marine climate

a. arid climate

A region with long, very cold winters and average temperatures that exceed 50 °F only one or two months during the summer has a(n) ____ climate. a. subpolar (Dfc) b. alpine (An) c. polar tundra (ET) d. polar ice cap (EF)

a. subpolar (Dfc)

The climate classification for a region where copious rain falls throughout much of the year, except for a short one or two month dry period, would probably be ____. a. tropical monsoon (Am) b. moist subtropical (Cs) c. tropical wet (Af) d. humid continental (Dfa)

a. tropical monsoon (Am)

A city on the west coast of the United States with mild winters and long cool summers would have a ____ climate. a. semi arid (BS) b. moist subtropical (Cfb) c. moist continental (Dfa) d. tropical wet and dry (Aw)

b. moist subtropical (Cfb)

A rainshadow desert is normally found ____. a. on the back (western) side of a large thunderstorm b. on the downwind side of a mountain range c. in the center of a large surface anticyclone d. in polar regions where the air is cold and dry

b. on the downwind side of a mountain range

The earth's rainforests are found in ____. a. humid subtropical (Cfa) climates b. tropical wet (Af) climates only c. tropical wet and dry (Aw) climates d. tropical dry (Aw) climates only

b. tropical wet (Af) climates only

Bending of isotherms along coastal margins is related to ____. a. the Gulf Stream, which carries cold water northward b. unequal heating and cooling properties of land and water c. the flow of warm waters toward the south by the North Atlantic Drift current d. downwelling caused by southerly winds

b. unequal heating and cooling properties of land and water

A taiga forest would be found in which climatic type? a. polar tundra b. subpolar c. humid subtropical d. tropical rainforest

c. humid subtropical

An average temperature of above freezing but below 50 ° F during the warmest month is characteristic of a ____. a. region in which savanna grass thrives b. taiga c. tundra d. region with a lack of vegetation

c. tundra

The climate of an area about the size of a town would be described as a(n) ____. a. microclimate b. urban climate c. macroclimate d. mesoclimate

d. mesoclimate

Mediterranean climates are characterized by ____. a. cold, relatively dry winters and mild, humid summers b. mild, wet winters and mild, humid summers c. cold, wet winters and hot, humid summers d. mild, wet winters and mild-to-hot, dry summers

d. mild, wet winters and mild-to-hot, dry summers

A humid subtropical climate is found in what region of the United States? a. Southern California b. Southwest c. Southeast d. Central Plains

c. Southeast

According to Köppen, the climate of a city situated high in the mountains of the middle latitudes would be classified as ____. a. alpine b. subpolar c. highland d. tundra

c. highland

A city located on the east coast of the United States with hot, muggy summers and mild winters (an average temperature above 27 ° F during the coldest month) has a ____ climate. a. tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) b. moist continental (Dfa) c. moist subtropical (Cfa) climate d. Mediterranean (Cs) climate

c. moist subtropical (Cfa) climate

The rainiest places in the world are usually located ____. a. along the western side of continents b. downwind from mountain ranges c. on the windward side of mountains d. in the middle of continents

c. on the windward side of mountains

The Köppen scheme for classifying climates employs annual and monthly averages of ____. a. precipitation and stream runoff b. sunshine and soil type c. temperature and precipitation d. ocean levels and surface pressure

c. temperature and precipitation

The lowest mean temperatures in the world occur in ____. a. Northwestern Europe b. the Arctic c. the Antarctic d. Northern Siberia

c. the Antarctic

According to Köppen's classification of climates, marine climates are observed in the United States mainly along ____. a. the Gulf Coast b. the coast of New England c. the Pacific Northwest coast d. coastal areas of the middle Atlantic states

c. the Pacific Northwest coast

The tropical wet-and-dry climate is influenced mainly by the ____. a. ITCZ and subtropical highs b. subtropical highs and polar front c. polar front and the ITCZ d. polar front and the subtropical highs

a. ITCZ and subtropical highs

Factors that produce the climate in any given place are called ____. a. climatic controls b. climatic changes c. climatic pressures d. weather controls

a. climatic controls

To be considered a moist continental climate, ____. a. monthly average temperatures must fall below 27°F during the winter b. a region must be located more than 500 miles from the nearest ocean c. total rainfall must exceed 60 inches d. winter snowfall must exceed summer rainfall

a. monthly average temperatures must fall below 27°F during the winter

Which climate type would normally have the highest afternoon temperatures during the summer? a. A b. B c. C d. D

b. B

The term monsoon refers to ____. a. the short summer rainy season observed in some locations b. a period of heavy rainfall produced by thunderstorms c. a seasonal reversal of winds d. a short dry season

b. a period of heavy rainfall produced by thunderstorms

In a tropical wet-and-dry climate, the dry season occurs with the ____. a. high sun period (summer) b. low sun period (winter) c. close proximity of the ITCZ d. subtropical lows

b. low sun period (winter)

A region with an average temperature of 32 ° F or below during the warmest month is considered a(n) ____ according to the Köppen classification system. a. polar tundra b. polar ice cap c. arctic d. subpolar

b. polar ice cap

In a dry climate, ____. a. winters are short, but cold b. potential evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation c. air temperatures seldom drop below freezing and days are always hot d. there are no plants

b. potential evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation

One would most likely experience steppe vegetation in a ____. a. humid subtropical climate b. semi-arid climate c. subpolar climate d. tropical wet-and-dry climate

b. semi-arid climate