Climate

How do currents such as the Gulf Stream affect regional climates?

• Currents absorb heat as they move from low latitudes to high latitudes.

• Currents distribute heat from offshore regions to coastal regions.

• Currents distribute heat from the equator to higher latitudes.

• Currents remove heat from higher latitudes and distribute it at the equator.

Which area would most likely have a moderate climate?

• an area near a mountain

• an area near a fast moving creek

• an area on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico

• an area 50 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean

Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing climate?

• Latitude

• Oceans

• Topography

• Wind Speed

How does the heat capacity of water affect the climate of a city on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico?

• The water reflects heat from the sun and warms the atmosphere in the area.

• The water absorbs a large amount of heat and cools the atmosphere in the area.

• The water absorbs heat without evaporating causing frequent droughts in the area.

• The water evaporates as small amounts of heat are absorbed causing frequent rain showers in the area.

The United Kingdom and Canada share the same latitude, but Canada experiences colder winters. Which change would cause the United Kingdom's winters to decrease an average of 10oC?

• The Canary Current shifts eastward

• The Gulf Stream decreases in speed

• The North Equatorial current increases speed

• The warmer winters along Canada’s coast

Which explains why water is able to moderate coastal climates?

• Water's low heat capacity causes frequent cooling rain showers.

• Water's high heat capacity causes frequent cooling rain showers.

• Water's low heat capacity allows it to absorb large amounts of heat.

• Water's high heat capacity allows it to absorb large amounts of heat.

Hurricane, cyclone, and typhoon formations in the tropical oceanic areas help maintain Earth’s heat balance during the summer and fall seasons. How do these tropical storms accomplish this task of transferring heat energy?

• by absorbing heat energy from the sun within the ocean’s surface waters

• by moving radiant heat energy absorbed by the atmosphere and transferring it to the warm ocean’s surface waters

• by moving heat energy from the warm surface waters of the ocean and transferring it into the atmosphere above the ocean's surface

• by releasing heat energy from the warm ocean’s surface and transferring it to the cooler ocean layers below the surface

The carbon cycle interacts with the hydrosphere, but carbon is not easily removed from this environment. Therefore, the oceans are often referred to as a carbon sink. What is one way carbon is removed from the ocean?

• Carbon is carried by deep ocean currents.

• Phytoplankton turns the carbon into organic matter.

• Organisms use carbon to make calcium carbonate for their skeleton structures.

• At the surface, carbon dioxide is exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere.

Earth's climate change may be triggered by internal and external conditions. Which of the following would not be considered a factor that might affect climate change?

• the fluctuation of solar radiation

• spring flooding after heavy winter snowfall

• ability of water to store large amounts of solar heat

• volcanic eruptions that send substances into the atmosphere

Which of the following abiotic components are causing the coral reef to diminish and become brittle (weak and fragile)?

• The temperature of the ocean is decreasing and the pH is decreasing making the ocean more acidic.

• The temperature of the ocean is decreasing in the ocean and the pH is increasing making the ocean more basic.

• The temperature of the ocean is rising and the pH is decreasing making the ocean more acidic.

• The temperature of the ocean is rising in the ocean and the pH is increasing making the ocean more basic.