earth science unit 8 test
Choose all that apply. If you are outside during a tornado, what should you do to stay as safe as possible?
- find a ditch and lie down flat at its lowest point, and remain there until the tornado passes - get into the nearest building, and remain at the lowest level until tornado passes
Select all of the answers that apply. If you're sitting at home and a hurricane or tornado warning is given, you should _____.
- stay away from all windows and unstable objects - go into the basement
Select all of the answers that apply. Severe weather that has caused deaths includes _____.
- thunderstorms - hurricanes - tornadoes - floods
Select all of the answers that apply. Clouds have many effects, such as _____.
- warming Earth's surface at night - cooling Earth's surface during the day - reflecting the Sun's rays
Select all of the answers that apply. The Doppler radar can tell you many things about the weather, like _____.
- wind direction - wind speed - intensity of precipitation - location of precipitation
cirrus
1
alto
2
stratus
3
Seasons are a result of:
Earth's tilt on it's axis
The Milankovitch cycles may have changed Earth's climate in the past. These cycles involve _____.
Earth's toll and orbit
If thermohaline circulation were blocked, perhaps by plate tectonics, what would happen?
Global climate would be significantly affected
subtropical
Most deserts are along this zone.
temperate
Most of the U.S. is in this zone.
polar
This zone is the coldest.
tropical
This zone is the hottest.
A meteorologist might forecast precipitation if he sees _____.
a cold front coming in
relative humidity
a percentage of the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at its current temperature
An air mass is a large pocket of air with _____.
a uniform temperature and humidity
If you've traveled to Hawaii or another tropical island, you know that it rains a lot because _____.
all of the above
The humidity you feel in the southern states of the U.S. is _____.
all of the above
You want to measure wind speed. You'll grab _____.
an anemometer
source region
area over which an air mass forms
If there's a flood, you should _____.
avoid flooded areas and flee to higher ground if needed
Temperatures in the winter drop because that part of the earth is tilted ______ the Sun.
away from
Referring to the ______ scale is a way to estimate the wind speed.
beaufort
Droughts can occur in any climate.
true
In the Great Plains of the U.S., tornadoes are common in the summer. This is because _____.
continental polar air masses can reach further south
Wind in the atmosphere and currents in the ocean are caused by uneven heating that produces _____.
convection
________ transfers heat within the atmosphere and ocean.
convection
When you drive from the city to a distant farm, the temperature gets _________ because of the _________ .
cooler, urban heat island effect
When looking up at the clouds, you can usually make out different shapes and figures with _____.
cumulus clouds
Weather changes _______, while climate changes ___________ .
daily, over time
Climates with a lot of precipitation most often have _____.
diverse vegetation and life
Ocean currents that upwell near Southern California can make the climate _____ compared to coastal areas that do not have upwelling.
drier and cooler
A ______ occurs when rainfall is below average for an extended period.
drought
polar
dry, cold climate zone above 60 degree latitude
Continental air masses form over water and maritime air masses form over land.
false
Earth's climate has been stable throughout its history.
false
Use a hygrometer to measure ________ and a psychrometer to measure __________
humidity, humidity
The thermohaline circulation belt _____.
is the main transporter of heat in the ocean
You find a weather balloon in your backyard. There's some kind of device attached to it. What is it?
radiosonde
Liquid droplets that fall from the sky are _____.
rain
Climates and weather activities are driven by _____.
solar energy
You'll find lots of clouds over ______ climates and practically no clouds over _______ climates.
tropical, desert
Global climate could be greatly altered if the earth's energy budget were out of balance.
true
If there are any types of cirrus clouds in the sky, it's safe to assume fair weather.
true
If you're out driving during a thunderstorm, it's best to stay in your car.
true
If Lake Ontario were as cold as a continental arctic air mass that flowed over it, the lake effect snow _____.
would be very weak
Select all of the answers that apply. Meteorologists, with the help of weather station data and computers, use many weather tools to help forecast the weather, such as _____.
- Doppler radars - psychrometers - barometers - radiosondes
Milankovitch cycles
predictable variations of Earth's orbit and tilt that can affect climate
The Sierra Nevada Mountains display diverse vegetation on their western side, but barren desert on their eastern side. Why does this difference exist?
rain shadow effect
temperate
seasonably variable climate zone between 40 and 60 degrees latitude, north or south of the equator
_____ is fluffy ice crystals, while _____ is water droplets that freeze on the way down to Earth.
snow, sleet
rain shadow effect
when wind flow over mountains produces moist conditions on the windward side of the mountains and dry conditions on the leeward side
When two different air masses collide, a _____ is formed.
front
psychrometer
measures relative humidity using a pair of dry bulb and wet bulb thermometers
Precipitation occurs when _____.
cloud droplets get too heavy and fall
This graphic presents a _____.
cold front
Heavy rainfall or violent wave activity can cause _____.
floods
When driving through the streets of New York early in the morning, what type of cloud sometimes reduces visibility?
fog
Weather patterns in the Northern Hemisphere move _____.
from west to east over the United States
With an occluded front, _____.
grab a sweater because it's going to be cool
As Mary stood outside, it started to precipitate. The precipitation felt like small rocks hitting her! Most likely, it was _____.
hail
Humidity can be measured using human _____.
hair
Hurricanes are considered ________ because they lose power over cool waters or land.
heat engines
If you see dark, thick, nimbostratus clouds, what will you forecast?
heavy precipitation
Cold fronts produce _____ precipitation, and warm fronts produce _____ precipitation.
heavy, light
An air mass usually forms in an area of _____.
high pressure because it is stable
subtropical
hot, often dry, climate zone between 25 and 30 degrees latitude, north or south of the equator
What happens to water vapor as it rises in the atmosphere?
it cools and condenses
The four main climate zones—tropical, subtropical, temperate, and polar—are designated because their _____ greatly affects their temperature.
latitude
Weather is ______ , while climate is ________ .
less predictable, more predictable
_______ forecasts are usually less accurate than ________ forecasts.
long-term, short term
There is very high humidity in your area and a cold front moving in. What would be your forecast?
lots and lots of rain
The source region of this _____ air mass is over the southern Atlantic Ocean.
maritime tropical
There are thunderstorms to the west of your location. Below is your wind vane. Are the storms heading your way?
no
Warm fronts and _______ fronts usually produce light precipitation.
stationary
If you're in your car during a thunderstorm, the best thing to do is to _____.
stay in your car
In the U.S., summer is in June, July, and August because _____.
the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun at this time
The atmosphere and oceans are constantly moving. Their activity is due primarily to _____.
the Sun's energy
Climates near the equator are warmer than at the poles because _____.
the Sun's rays are more concentrated at the equator
Desert climates can have very hot days and very cold nights. This is because _____.
there is usually a clear sky
To take the temperature, you'll use a _______.
thermometer
Common features of a thunderstorm are _____.
thunder, lightning, rain or hail
radiosonde
transmitter sent up in a weather balloon to send measurements of air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction
A front forms when _____.
two different types of air masses meet
maritime
type of temperate climate near an ocean or sea
Most severe weather is generated in areas that are _____.
warm and moist
Weather and climate are different because _____.
weather is less predictable while climate is predictable
If you live near the ocean and then move inland, you'll notice _____.
your summers will be hotter and your winters colder
