Deck 17: Global Climate

Question 1

The earth's rainforests are found in

A) humid subtropical (Cfa)climates.
B) tropical wet (Af)climates.
C) tropical wet and dry (Aw)climates.
D) all of the above

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which below is not characteristic of a tropical wet climate (Af)?

A) greater temperature variation between day and night than between the warmest and coolest months of the year
B) extremely high afternoon temperatures,usually much higher than those experienced in middle latitudes
C) abundant rainfall all year long
D) afternoon showers and high humidity

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The rainiest places in the world are usually located

A) downwind from mountain ranges.
B) in the region of the subtropical highs.
C) on the windward side of mountains.
D) in the middle of continents.
E) along the western side of continents.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The Köppen scheme for classifying climates employs annual and monthly averages of

A) temperature and precipitation.
B) precipitation and stream runoff.
C) ocean levels and surface pressure.
D) population density and agricultural output.
E) sunshine and soil type.

Question 5

Which of the following is considered a climatic control?

A) ocean currents
B) intensity of sunshine and its variation with latitude
C) prevailing winds
D) altitude
E) all of the above

Question 6

In Thornthwaite's P/E index,the "P" and "E" stand for

A) precipitation and evaporation.
B) precipitation and energy (available).
C) potential sunlight and energy.
D) potential sunlight and evaporation.

Question 7

The climate of an area about the size of a town would be described as

A) mesoclimate.
B) macroclimate.
C) microclimate.
D) urban climate.

Question 8

Which section of the United States is most likely to experience a persistent subsidence inversion during the summer?

A) Pacific Coastal regions
B) Central Plains
C) Southern Florida
D) Atlantic Coastal regions
E) Midwest

Question 9

The term monsoon refers to

A) the short summer rainy season observed in some locations.
B) a short dry season.
C) a period of heavy rainfall produced by thunderstorms.
D) a seasonal shift in wind circulation.

Question 10

A rainshadow desert is normally found

A) in the center of a large surface anticyclone.
B) on the back (western)side of a large thunderstorm.
C) in polar regions where the air is cold and dry.
D) in the center of the ITCZ.
E) on the downwind side of a mountain range.

Question 11

The coldest regions of large continents are usually on the west coast.

Question 12

Savanna grass would most likely be associated with which climate type?

A) tropical rainforest (Af)
B) tropical monsoon (Am)
C) semi-arid (BS)
D) tropical wet-and-dry (Aw)

Question 13

The greatest likelihood of experiencing a dry month of February would be along

A) the equator.
B) the west coast of Mexico (latitude 20°N).
C) the Southern California coast (latitude 35°N).
D) the Gulf Coast near New Orleans (latitude 30°N).
E) the coast of southern Alaska (latitude 60°N).

Question 14

Which of the following is not considered a climatic control?

A) altitude
B) mountain barriers
C) ocean currents
D) insolation
E) none of the above

Question 15

Which of the following refers to day-to-day weather variability?

A) microclimate
B) mesoclimate
C) macroclimate
D) global climate
E) none of the above

Question 16

The lowest average temperatures in the world occur in

A) North America.
B) Northwestern Europe.
C) the Arctic.
D) the Antarctic.
E) Northern Siberia.

Question 17

The tropical wet-and-dry climate is influenced mainly by the

A) polar front and the subtropical highs.
B) polar front and the ITCZ.
C) subtropical highs and polar front.
D) ITCZ and subtropical highs.
E) subtropical highs and polar lows.

Question 18

What do Dallol,Ethiopia,Death Valley,California,and El Azizia,Libya,have in common?

A) They are all in third-world countries.
B) They are three of the hottest places on the earth.
C) They are three of the coldest places on the earth.
D) They all have frequent snowstorms.

Question 19

The climate classification for a region with average monthly temperatures that remain above 18°C (64°F)throughout the year and abundant rainfall,except for a short one or two month dry period,would probably be

A) tropical wet (Af).
B) moist subtropical (Cs).
C) tropical monsoon (Am).
D) humid continental (Dfa).

Question 20

Which of the following help explain why the lowest average temperatures in the world are found in Antarctica?

A) dry air
B) high altitude
C) surface reflects incident sunlight
D) all of the above

Question 21

In a dry climate,

A) there are no plants.
B) potential evaporation and transpiration exceed precipitation.
C) there is no precipitation.
D) air temperatures seldom drop below freezing and days are always hot.
E) winters are short,but cold.

Question 22

One would most likely experience steppe vegetation in a

A) semi-arid climate.
B) humid subtropical climate.
C) marine climate.
D) subpolar climate.
E) tropical wet-and-dry climate.

Question 23

Which climate type normally has the largest annual range in temperature?

A) tropical climates
B) humid-subtropical climates
C) polar ice cap climates
D) subpolar climates
E) dry climates

Question 24

The primary reason for the dry summer subtropical climate in North America is

A) that storms do not form in summer.
B) that the air is too cool to produce adequate precipitation.
C) the Pacific high moves north in summer.
D) the ITCZ moves north in summer.
E) the Bermuda high intensifies and shifts northward in summer.

Question 25

A city located on the east coast of the United States with hot,muggy summers and mild winters (the average temperature of the coldest month is above -3°C (27°F))has a ____ climate.

A) moist subtropical (Cfa)climate
B) Mediterranean (Cs)climate
C) tropical wet and dry climate (Aw)
D) moist continental (Dfa)

Question 26

Which of the following climatic regions would probably have the largest daily temperature range?

A) tropical wet climate
B) arid climate
C) east coast marine climate
D) Mediterranean climate

Question 27

A city on the west coast of the United States with mild winters and a long cool summer would have a ____ climate.

A) moist subtropical (Cfb)
B) tropical wet and dry (Aw)
C) moist continental (Dfa)
D) semi-arid (BS)

Question 28

Locations at middle latitudes with monthly average temperatures in the winter that are below 18°C (64°F),but above -3°C (27°F)have ____ climates.

A) humid subtropical
B) moist continental
C) semi-arid
D) steppe

Question 29

Mediterranean climates are characterized by

A) cool,wet winters and mild to hot,dry summers.
B) cold,wet winters and hot,humid summers.
C) cold,relatively dry winters and mild,humid summers.
D) mild,wet winters and mild,humid summers.
E) cold,snowy winters and hot,dry summers.

Question 30

A humid subtropical climate is found in what region of the United States?

A) Southwest
B) Southeast
C) Central Plains
D) Southern California

Question 31

A region with long,very cold winters and average temperatures that exceed 10°C (50°F)only one or two months during the summer would have ____ climate.

A) a subpolar (Dfc)
B) a polar tundra (ET)
C) a polar ice cap (EF)
D) an alpine (An)

Question 32

In an east-west oriented mountain range,a rain shadow could be found on the ____ of the range.

A) east or west
B) north or south
C) both east or west and north or south

Question 33

The highest temperatures in the world occur in

A) tropical moist climates.
B) subtropical moist climates.
C) continental moist climates.
D) continental dry climates.
E) subtropical deserts.

Question 34

According to Köppen's classification of climates,marine climates are observed in the United States mainly along

A) the Pacific Northwest coast.
B) coastal areas of the middle Atlantic states.
C) the coast of New England.
D) the Gulf Coast.
E) coastal margins of Southern California.

Question 35

The most abundant climate type over the face of the earth is

A) moist tropical climates.
B) dry climates.
C) moist subtropical mid-latitude climates.
D) moist continental climates.
E) polar climates.

Question 36

To be considered a moist continental climate,

A) winter snowfall must exceed summer rainfall.
B) monthly average temperatures must fall below -3°C (27°F)during the winter.
C) total rainfall must exceed 60 inches.
D) a region must be located more than 500 miles from the nearest ocean.

Question 37

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) all of the above

Question 38

The global distribution of precipitation is closely associated with

A) latitude.
B) distribution of mountain ranges and high plateaus.
C) the general circulation of the atmosphere.
D) all of the above

Question 39

Deserts that experience low clouds and drizzle tend to be found mainly

A) in the center of continents.
B) in the rain shadow of a mountain.
C) on the eastern side of continents.
D) on the western side of continents.
E) on small islands near the equator.

Question 40

One would not expect to experience a D-type climate in:

A) Alaska.
B) New England.
C) Southern Canada.
D) South America.

Question 41

The climate of a city situated high in the mountains of the middle latitudes would,according to Köppen,be classified as

A) tundra.
B) subpolar.
C) alpine.
D) highland.

Question 42

Describe the climate of and the microclimatic variation within the neighborhood in which you live.

Question 43

The coldest areas of the northern hemisphere are found ____ of large land masses.

A) in the interior
B) on the periphery

Question 44

The variety of climatic zones that one observes on a mountain is due primarily to differences in

A) atmospheric pressure.
B) relative humidity.
C) rainfall amounts.
D) temperature.

Question 45

Where is the Mojave Desert located? What factors account for the Mojave Desert being found there?

Question 46

A yearly rainfall of 14 inches in a hot climate will support only sparse vegetation.The same total amount of rain in north central Canada would support a conifer forest.Why is this possible?

Question 47

The greatest one-month rainfall total (366 in. )occurred in Cherrapunji,India,in July of 1861.The greatest 24 hour rainfall total (43 in. )in the United States occurred in Alvin,Texas,on July 25,1979.The greatest 42 minute rainfall total (12 in. )occurred in Holt,Missouri,on June 22,1947.What meteorological conditions do you think produced these record precipitation amounts?

Question 48

In general,would you expect to find more rainfall on the western side or the Eastern side of the subtropical high pressure centers? How does this affect climatic conditions along the east and west coast of the United States?

Question 49

How is it possible for regions with a desert climate to be found next to an ocean,which you might expect to be an abundant source of moist air?

Question 50

When the average temperature of the warmest month averages 0°C (32°F)or below,Köppen classified this as a ____ climate.

A) subpolar
B) polar ice cap
C) polar tundra
D) arctic

Question 51

Discuss some of the factors that determine where the wettest places in the world are found.

Question 52

What differences exist between tropical wet (Af),tropical monsoon (Am),and tropical wet and dry (Aw)climates? Would you expect to observe any significant differences in types of vegetation in these different climates groups?

Question 53

The hottest places on earth are not found near the equator in tropical wet climates,but,rather,in arid climate regions.Why is this true?

Question 54

A location in the center of a large,mid-latitude continent is likely to experience

A) a precipitation maximum during winter.
B) a precipitation maximum during summer.
C) abundant precipitation all year long.
D) little precipitation at any time of year.

Question 55

Thawing of an upper layer of permafrost would most likely be observed in which climatic type?

A) polar ice cap
B) humid continental with warm summers
C) humid subtropical
D) polar tundra

Question 56

Tree growth is not possible in a region where

A) annual precipitation is 20 inches or less.
B) average monthly temperatures never exceed 10°C (50°F).
C) average monthly temperatures are sometimes less than 0°C (32°F).
D) evaporation exceeds total annual precipitation.

Question 57

Within the continental United States (excluding Alaska),one could observe

A) taiga.
B) polar tundra.
C) polar icecap.
D) all of the above

Question 58

When the average temperature of the warmest month of a region averages above freezing,but below 10°C (50°F),you might expect to observe what type of vegetation there?

A) savanna grass
B) tundra
C) taiga
D) None - it's too cold for anything to grow.

Question 59

What meteorological information is the primary basis for climate classification using the Köppen system?

Question 60

Average monthly temperatures that exceed 0°C (32°F)but remain below 10°C (50°F)are characteristic of

A) the polar ice cap (EF)climate zone.
B) the subpolar (Dfc)climate zone.
C) the polar tundra (ET)climate zone.
D) alpine (An)climate zone.

Question 61

Seattle,Washington (lat.47.5^oN)has a coastal Mediterranean (Csb)climate.New York,New York (41^oN)has a humid subtropical (Cfa)climate.What differences in climate would you expect to find between these two locations?

Question 62

Describe the differences in climate that would be experienced by cities located upwind and downwind of a large,north-south oriented mountain range.

Question 63

Compare the climate of your town with that of another location at the same latitude,but in a different continent.Explain any similarities or differences.

Question 64

Which climate type(s)would be affected most by global warming? Why?

Question 65

Identify and describe the different climatic zones you would observe if you traveled from west to east across the middle of the United States?