Weather & Climate

The kinds of data that reflect climate are different from the conditions described in weather data. Which of the following is a description of climate?

• Today it is hot and sunny in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Summers are usually mild in Lansing, Michigan.

• Last week it rained every day in San Antonio, Texas.

• Yesterday was cold and windy in Anchorage, Alaska.

The table shows some weather data collected over a five-day period. What pattern over the five days can be observed in the collected data?

• There was more rain on the warmer days.

• There were fewer clouds as the week went on.

• Rain came along with lower temperatures.

• Temperature increased during the week.

Weather and climate data are different. Which of the following is a description of weather data?

• The Sahara desert gets very little rainfall.

• The average daytime high in the Amazon is 25°C.

• Temperatures in the Arctic are usually below freezing.

• It rained two inches in Miami, Florida on May 5th.

The map shows the weather for Texas on Monday, October 15, 2012. Before the front passed through Houston on Sunday, the high temperature was 14 degrees Celsius. Which of the following is the most reasonable prediction for the high temperature on Monday, after the front has passed?

• 8° C

• 14° C

• 20° C

• 26° C

Climate data is not the same as weather data. Which of the following is a description of climate data?

• New York had a record rainfall on Wednesday.

• Lima, Peru had a low temperature last night of 17°C.

• Winds are currently from the south in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

• The coast of Antarctica has very short summers.

Scientists studying climate collect data that is slightly different from the data collected by those interested in weather. What is different about the data collected about climate? Climate data -

• OPTIONS

  requires more specialized equipment than weather data

• focuses on conditions only in the upper atmosphere

• refers to longer times and wider areas than weather data

• does not include information about air temperature

The two weather maps show a front moving across Texas. In which of the following cities would a decrease in temperature be predicted between Day 1 and Day 2?

• Amarillo

• Austin

• El Paso

• Sweetwater

A study of climate includes the use of maps that are different from simple weather maps. A map of which of the following is one that would be used in the study of climate?

• Number of sunny days per year in Northern Africa

• ocation of current rains in Southeast Nebraska

• Path of a hurricane in the Gulf over a week

• Position of a cold front yesterday outside Detroit, Michigan

Students measured the rainfall outside their classroom for five days and recorded their observations. The greatest increase in the amount of rainfall was between -

• June 10 and June 11

• June 11 and June 12

• June 12 and June 13

• June 13and June 14

Weather data is different from climate data. Which of these is an example of weather data?

• Skies are mostly cloudy at 5:00 pm in Las Vegas on May 3rd, 2012.

• New England has an average of more than 100 rainy days each year.

• Northern Europe has much colder winters than South America.

• The high plateau region of Antarctica has constant light winds from the south.