Unit 5 Weather Systems Formative Assessment

A map of sea surface temperature is provided. What pattern, shown in the map, explains why many oceans begin near the Equator?

• Water farthest from the poles gets the hottest
• Less evaporation here leads to saltier water
• Earth is rotating fastest at the lower latitudes
• Cold water sinks near the coasts of the continents

A student heats salt water in a beaker on a hot plate to model how ocean currents are generated. What is the most important way in which this model fails to accurately show how ocean currents are generated?

• Ocean water is not contained within something solid.
• Water in the ocean cannot move up and down.
• Oceans have fresh, not salt water.
• Oceans are heated from the top, not the bottom.

The energy that generates wind comes from what source?

• Solar radiation
• Electromagnetic energy
• Moon's gravity
• Earth's rotation

An illustration of how a convection current creates a wind, called a sea breeze, is provided. Which of the following best explains what creates this convection current?

• Salt in the ocean makes it more dense than the land, so its gravity pulls more on the air above it.
• The rotation of the Earth makes the air above it rotate, but not the same over land and water.
• During the day, the Sun's energy heats up the land, which makes the air above it warmer.
• During the day, Earth's gravity creates a high pressure area over both the land and water.

Which of the following changes would eliminate the energy source that generates the convection currents in the ocean?

• Removing all the salt from sea water.
• Stopping the rotation of the Earth.
• Eliminating producers from marine habitats.
• Blocking off all solar radiation.

Based on the information provided in the weather map, which city shown will most likely experience a drop in pressure over the next few days?

• Rapid City
• Jacksonville
• Baltimore
• Portland

Based on the information provided in the weather map, which city shown most recently saw a rise in temperature?

• Louisville 
• Boise
• Denver
• Shreveport

The general pattern of winds around a high pressure area is clockwise, outward. The general pattern of winds around a low pressure area is counterclockwise, inward.  Based on the information provided, which Texas city shown will most likely have winds from the east?

• Tyler
• San Antonio
• Houston
• Abilene

In general, one can expect clear skies with a high pressure area and cloudier conditions in areas of low pressure. Based on this information, and that is provided in the weather map, which city shown most likely is currently experiencing clouds but will see clearer skies in the near future?

• Cleveland
• Atlanta
• Los Angeles
• Omaha

The general pattern of winds around a high pressure area is clockwise, outward. The general pattern of winds around a low pressure area is counterclockwise, inward. based on the information provided, the winds in St. Louis, Missouri will be mainly from the __.

• west
• east
• north
• south