Deck 20: Climate

Question 1

The __________ is the ultimate climate source for winds and evaporation.

A) Moon
B) Sun
C) Earth's core
D) radioactive decay within Earth's crust

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The fact that the center of Washington, D.C., is more than 3° warmer than outlying areas demonstrates the __________ __________ __________ effect.

Answer 2

urban heat island

Question 3

A/an __________ is a community of plants growing in a large geographic region characterized by a particular climate.

Answer 3

biome

Question 4

The __________ biome is characteristic of Arctic and high alpine regions.

Question 5

The __________ __________ is characterized by dry summers, rainy winters, and moderate temperature. This climate zone occurs along the coast in southern California.

Question 6

A/an __________ __________ climate occurs near the equator, with large seasonal variations in rainfall, and relatively high amounts of annual precipitation.

Question 7

The __________ __________ __________ is the high-altitude wind marking the boundary between cold polar air and the warm, moist westerly flow that originates in the subtropics.

Question 8

__________ __________ grow in tropical regions where rainfall is greater that 400 centimeters per year (40 in/yr) and is constant throughout the year.

Question 9

Air rises at the convergence of the prevailing westerlies and the polar easterlies, forming a low-pressure boundary zone called the __________ __________.

Question 10

The __________ __________ are a calm, high-pressure region at about 30° north and south latitudes.

Question 11

Mariners called the equatorial region where thunderstorms are common but steady winds are rare the __________.

A) doldrums
B) horse latitudes
C) westerlies
D) easterlies

Question 12

__________ deposits tell us that Antarctica was once located close to the equator.

A) Till
B) Sandstone
C) Salt
D) Coal

Question 13

Surface winds moving toward the equator are deflected by the Coriolis effect, so they blow from the __________ in the Northern Hemisphere and from the __________ in the Southern Hemisphere.

A) northeast, southwest
B) northeast, southeast
C) northwest, southeast
D) northwest, southwest

Question 14

Warm air rises near the equator, forming a low-pressure region called the __________.

Question 15

The __________ __________ __________ is used by climatologists throughout the world to define principle climate groups.

Question 16

The __________ biome consists of conifers that can survive extremely cold winters.

Question 17

A/an __________ __________ is a tropical region with large seasonal variations in rainfall with a moderate amount of rain that supports grassland with scattered small trees and shrubs.

Question 18

The biome where annual precipitation is 25 to 35 centimeters and grasslands predominate is called a/an __________.

Question 19

Surface winds moving toward the equator that have been deflected by the Coriolis effect to blow reliably are called the __________ __________.

Question 20

The __________ winds are steady surface winds between about 5° and 30° north and south latitude.

A) doldrum
B) west
C) trade
D) polar

Question 21

When warm air is heated by the Sun and rises at the equator, it:

A) is deflected by the Coriolis effect and sinks at the equator in the evening.
B) splits, travels poleward, is deflected by the Coriolis effect, and sinks at 30° north and south latitudes.
C) splits and travels poleward, moving due north and south.
D) travels at high elevation, is deflected by the Coriolis effect, and sinks at the poles.

Question 22

Which of the following statements about climate is correct?

A) Temperature decreases steadily with increasing longitude.
B) Seasonal temperature changes are more pronounced at high latitudes than at lower latitudes.
C) All regions at a given latitude have the same temperature.
D) Temperature increases steadily with increasing altitude.

Question 23

The __________-cell model of global wind circulation shows cells of global airflow bordered by alternating bands of high and low pressure.

A) two
B) three
C) four
D) five

Question 24

The three-cell model of global wind circulation shows:

A) that global wind systems are generated solely by temperature differences between the equator and the poles.
B) three cells of global air flow bordered by alternating bands of high and low pressure.
C) three cells of global air flow bordered by three low-pressure regions.
D) three cells of global air flow bordered by three high-pressure regions.

Question 25

The trade winds and prevailing westerlies flow apart at around __________ latitude.

A) 0°
B) 30°
C) 60°
D) 90°

Question 26

In the Northern Hemisphere above 60° north, surface winds deflected by the Coriolis effect are known as the:

A) trade winds.
B) prevailing westerlies.
C) polar easterlies.
D) horse latitudes.

Question 27

The __________ jet stream flows at __________ altitudes between the trade winds and the westerlies.

A) subtropical, high
B) subtropical, low
C) polar, high
D) polar, low

Question 28

Continental interiors where the temperature can fluctuate greatly between hot summers and cold winters are in the __________ climate zone.

A) Mediterranean
B) marine west coast
C) humid continental
D) tropical savanna

Question 29

The polar jet stream forms:

A) between the trade winds and the westerlies and is always at the same location.
B) between the trade winds and the westerlies and moves with the seasons.
C) along the polar front and is always at the same location.
D) along the polar front and moves with the seasons.

Question 30

The polar easterlies and prevailing westerlies converge at approximately:

A) 30° latitude.
B) 60° longitude.
C) 60° latitude.
D) 0° latitude.

Question 31

A/an ____________________ is a community of plants living in a large geographic area with a certain climate.

A) biological cluster
B) Hadley cell
C) organic community
D) biome

Question 32

The Koeppen Climate Classification classifies climate zones primarily by:

A) oceans and mountains.
B) latitude and altitude.
C) pressure and wind belts.
D) temperature and precipitation.

Question 33

The horse latitudes (30° north and south latitudes) and the doldrums (approximately 0° latitude) are both noted for regular calms, but they differ in that:

A) air in the doldrums is moving vertically downward while air in the horse latitudes is moving vertically upward.
B) rain is infrequent in the doldrums while it is much more frequent in the horse latitudes.
C) rain is frequent in the doldrums while it is much less frequent in the horse latitudes.
D) the doldrums is a region of high pressure and the horse latitudes have low pressure.

Question 34

The __________ Climate Classification is used by climatologists throughout the world.

A) Milankovich
B) Wegener
C) Koeppen
D) Hutton

Question 35

A tropical __________ climate is characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons with high rainfall during the wet months and relatively short dry seasons.

A) Mediterranean
B) monsoon
C) savanna
D) rainforest

Question 36

In the three-cell model, global wind patterns are generated by heat-driven convection currents that are directed by the Earth's rotation. Their direction is then altered by:

A) the Coriolis effect or Earth's rotation.
B) adiabatic expansion.
C) surface ocean currents.
D) the jet stream.

Question 37

Because of the urban heat island effect, warm air rises over a city, a local __________ zone develops, and rainfall is __________ than in the surrounding countryside.

A) high-pressure, greater
B) high-pressure, less
C) low-pressure, greater
D) low-pressure, less
Multiple Choice

Question 38

Descending air at the horse latitudes:

A) flows toward the equator only.
B) flows toward the poles only.
C) splits and flows west and east.
D) splits and flows toward the equator and toward the poles.

Question 39

The __________ zone, which supports the taiga biome, is the northernmost portion of the humid midlatitude climate zone.

A) subtropical
B) Mediterranean
C) subarctic
D) arctic

Question 40

At the __________, the polar easterlies and the prevailing westerlies converge.

A) horse latitudes
B) doldrums
C) polar front
D) poles

Question 41

The humid continental climate is characterized by:

A) mild summers, moderate winters, and precipitation throughout the year.
B) mild summers, moderate winters, and precipitation in summer only.
C) hot summers, cold winters, and precipitation in summer only.
D) hot summers, cold winters, and precipitation throughout the year.

Question 42

Global wind systems are generated only by the temperature difference between the equator and the poles.

Question 43

An urban heat island effect arises from:

A) factors in the urban environment.
B) factors in the rural environment.
C) differences in geothermal energy between city and rural areas.
D) differences in natural radioactivity between city and rural areas.
True/False

Question 44

Ocean currents moderate the temperatures at North America's west coast.

Question 45

A tropical monsoon climate has less total precipitation and more monthly variation than a tropical savanna climate.

Question 46

The climate zone or biome associated with rainfall of less than 25 centimeters per year is:

A) tropical rainforest.
B) semiarid.
C) desert.
D) Mediterranean.

Question 47

The climate of cities is measurably different from that of the surrounding rural regions.

Question 48

Many of the world's great deserts are located in the doldrums.

Question 49

Ultimately, the Sun controls the Earth's climate.

Question 50

The subtropical jet stream flows along the polar front.

Question 51

The climate zone or biome associated with cool summers, warm winters, and little temperature difference year-round is:

A) tropical rainforest.
B) desert.
C) Mediterranean.
D) marine west coast.

Question 52

High-altitude winds from the equator continue to flow all the way to the poles because they are deflected by the Coriolis effect.

Question 53

In a Mediterranean climate, 75 percent or more of the annual rainfall occurs in winter.

Question 54

The marine west coast climate is characterized by extremely high temperature differences between summer and winter.

Question 55

The great wheat belts of the United States, Canada, and Russia all lie between 60° and 90° north latitude.

Question 56

When geologists study the climate of a region over time, they must separate the effects of tectonic movement from global climate change.

Question 57

Temperate rainforests are common along the northwest coast of America, from Oregon to Alaska.

Question 58

Storm fronts pass over cities more quickly than they do over the surrounding countryside.

Question 59

The boundaries between the three convection cells in each hemisphere migrate with the seasons.

Question 60

The climate zone or biome associated with more than 400 centimeters of rain is:

A) tropical rainforest.
B) tropical savanna.
C) desert.
D) Mediterranean.