Weather & Climate

Tai has a container, called a terrarium, a closed glass container that he grows plants in. The container is closed, so Tai cannot add water to the container. However, the plants always have enough water to grow. Which of these statements best explains why the plants always have enough water?

• The air cannot hold all of the water vapor

• Water is unable to evaporate from the soil

• The water is cycled through the soil, the plants, and the air

• The plants take up water and store it in their stems and leaves

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

On an island near the equator, ocean water evaporates during the day. In the afternoon, heavy rains fall. This process is repeated during the summer months. What does this example best show?

• How most water on Earth is in the form of water vapor

• How water cycles through the ocean, atmosphere, and land

• How land is the main source of water during the water cycle

• How the ocean is large enough that it never runs out of water

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

When energy from the sun hits the air above land, the air warms and rises. Along a coastline, cooler air above the ocean flows toward the land to replace this rising air. Which of the following is this process called?

• Conduction

• Convection

• Expansion

• Radiation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Tai has a container, called a terrarium, a closed glass container that he grows plants in. The container is closed, so Tai cannot add water to the container. However, the plants always have enough water to grow. Which of these is the main process that would add water vapor to the air in the terrarium?

• Condensation of water in the air

• Evaporation of water from the soil

• Sublimation of water from the plant’s surface

• Transpiration of water from the plant’s leaves

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

After a day of rain, Samuel observed that a field on his family’s farm was covered in water. The next morning, the field appeared dry. Which of these statements is the least likely explanation of what happened to the water?

• The water evaporated into the atmosphere

• The water seeped through the ground

• The water was absorbed into the soil

• The water slowly trickled to lower ground as runoff

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The area in which you live has a particular climate. It also has weather. What is the difference between climate and weather?

• Climate is determined by temperature and precipitation, whereas weather is determined only by humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions

• Weather is determined by temperature and precipitation, whereas climate is determined only by humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions

• Climate is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place, whereas weather is the characteristic climate in an area over a long period of time

• Weather is the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place, whereas climate is the characteristic weather in an area over a long period of time

Eliana measures the outdoor temperatures each day for a week at exactly 3:00 pm. The temperatures she records are all between 25 ◦C and 30 ◦C. Eliana concludes that the climate of her area is tropical. What is the most important reason why her study and conclusion may not be correct?

• She recorded the temperature at only one time of day instead of more often

• She made her conclusion based only on temperature and not also on precipitation

• She made her conclusion based on only 1 week of data instead of over a long period of time

• She did not calculate the humidity, air pressure, and wind conditions when she made her conclusion

Let us compare the locations of Gainesville (inland) and Miami (coastal), two cities in Florida. At any one time, the range of temperatures in Gainesville differs from the range of temperatures in Miami. what most likely causes the range of temperatures to differ in Gainesville and Miami?

• Miami is located closer to the ocean than Gainesville is, and this causes its temperatures to vary less widely

• Gainesville is located much farther north than Miami is, so its temperatures vary more widely

• Miami is located closer to the ocean than Gainesville is, and winds from the ocean cause its temperatures to vary more widely

• Gainesville is farther inland than Miami is, so its climate is more moderate

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Altitude and air pressure are related. As altitude increases, what happens to air pressure?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It becomes zero

• It stays the same

How do jet streams influence local weather?

• They are the cause of global winds

• They increase the temperature of surrounding areas

• They increase the rate at which water evaporates

• They push air masses around and move weather systems

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6