Chapter 13 Questions

2. Identify four factors that determine climate.

Climate is determined by a variety of factors. These factors include latitude, atmospheric circulation patterns, oceanic circulation patterns, the local geography of an area, solar activity, and volcanic activity. Latitude is the most important determining factor of climate.

2. Explain why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere appears to be increasing.

Each year, the high carbon dioxide levels of winter were higher, and each year, the summer levels did not fall as low. This increase may be due to the burning of fossil fuels.

4. Name some of the possible consequences of a warmer Earth.

Sea levels rising, more hurricanes and typhoons, heat exhaustion, and respiratory problems.

4. Explain what causes the season.

Seasons result from the tilt of Earth's axis. Because of this tilt, the angle at which the sun's rays strike the Earth changes as the Earth moves around the sun. This change in angle is what causes the seasons to change.

1. Explain why earth's atmosphere is like the glass in a greenhouse.

Sunlight streams through the atmosphere and heats the Earth. As this heat radiates up from Earth's surface, some of it escapes into space. The rest of the heat is absorbed by gases in the troposphere and warms the air. This process of heat absorption is called the greenhouse effect.

3. Explain why different parts of the Earth have different climates.

The most important factor which determines climate is the distance from the equator. also solar energy reaches different parts of the earth at different times. An example of this would be Seattle and Phoenix, they have two different climates because they are at different distances from the equator.

3. Scientist think that the earth climate is becoming increasingly warmer.

They think that because greenhouse gases trap heat near the earths surface, more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will result in a increase in global temperature.

1. What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather refers to present state whereas climate refers to the average state in a period of time.