The map above shows the location of South Carolina.

South Carolina is humid during the summer months. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the humid conditions?

• evaporation form the surface of the ocean

• groundwater bubbling to the surface

• runoff from inland mountains

• flooding from river and streams

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Studies have shown that the oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers provide nearly 90 percent of the moisture in the atmosphere via evaporation. What is the main cause of water evaporation from the ocean?

• Currents in the ocean

• Heat energy from the ocean floor

• Heat energy from the Sun

• Wind and wave action along the shore

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Above a continent, a warm air mass slowly passes over a cold air mass. As the warm air begins to cool, clouds form. What will most likely happen next?

• lightning will strike

• hail will form

• rain will fall

• hurricanes will form

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Thunderstorms and hurricanes are examples of severe weather. Which of these weather conditions is necessary for the formation of thunderstorms and hurricanes?

• wind spiraling downward and away from the center of a storm

• cold rain falling to the ground

• air moving toward the center of a storm and rising into the atmosphere

• air masses combining to create a high-pressure area

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Since 1851, the National Hurricane Center has reported 147 hurricanes to have struck Florida. Which of the following factors would most likely cause a hurricane to decrease in strength?

• increasing the number of large clouds

• staying over a warm body of water for a long period of time

• moving toward tropical waters

• moving over land

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Jet streams are long, wide air currents in the upper atmosphere. They often affect weather over large areas. In what direction do jet streams above North America usually flow?

• east to west

  
  

• west to east

  
  

• south to north

• north to south

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The map above shows the average elevations of four U.S. state capitals.

Which city would you expect to have the lowest air pressure?

• Lansing, MI

• Phoenix, AZ

• Atlanta, GA

• Cheyenne, WY

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

The map above shows the flow of the ocean current known as the Gulf Stream.

Which best explains why the Gulf Stream tends to bring warmer air to the east coast of Florida?

• The Gulf Stream is a deep ocean current

• The Gulf Stream is the result of the Earth’s Rotation

• The Gulf Stream brings water from the equator

• The Gulf Stream changes direction each year

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A meteorologist is monitoring the weather around Tallahassee. She collects the following data from her weather instruments:

**Air pressure dropping quickly

**Warm air is rising rapidly

**Water droplets being pushed upward to the topmost part of a cloud

**Doppler radar map shows pockets of air with the wind blowing in opposite directions

Based on the weather data, what should the meteorologist include in the weather forecast for the Tallahassee area?

Group of answer choices

• drop in air temperature with light snow

  
  

• increasing humidity with light rain

  
  

• tornado watch with heavy rain and hail

  
  

• approaching hurricane with heavy rain and strong winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

This is a weather map of the United States.

What type of weather will Florida expect when the front comes through?

• many days of rain, snow, or fog

  
  

• heavy precipitation or thunderstorms

  
  

• light rain or drizzle

  
  

• sunny, clear, and windy

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5