A student models convection currents in a laboratory activity. How are the convection currents in the student’s model different from the convection currents in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans?

• The warm air in Earth’s atmosphere and the warm water in Earth’s oceans sink instead of rise.

• The heat source for Earth’s atmosphere and oceans is the sun, which heats from above instead of below.

• Convection cells in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans flow in the same direction instead of opposite directions.

• Cold air in Earth’s atmosphere and cold water in Earth’s oceans are less dense than warm air and warm water instead of being more dense.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is one condition that is necessary for a hurricane to form?

• Warm ocean water

• A strong cold front

• Cold ocean water

• A strong warm front

The weather map shows the weather conditions for one day across the United States. Based on the weather map, which city will most likely experience decreasing

temperatures during the next 24 hours?

• Denver, because it is raining there

• Atlanta, because a warm front is approaching

• Houston, because it is in a high-pressure area

• Minneapolis, because a cold front is approaching

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A hurricane is a large, rotating storm system that forms over water, bringing high winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. Hurricanes occur where —

• the ocean has extremely high tides.

• ocean water is the coolest, near the pole in the late winter.

• ocean water is the warmest, near the equator in the late summer.

• the ocean has extremely low tides.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The weather map shows air pressures in millibars. Which set of conditions best describes the weather at the area of lowest air pressure?

• Overcast skies with strong winds

• Partly cloudy with no wind

• Bright sun with no wind

• Mostly sunny with light winds

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Atmospheric convection helps to distribute —

• magnetic energy from Earth's core, which flows to the surface unevenly

• gravitational energy from Earth's core, which is strongest at the equator

• visible light from the Sun, which strikes Earth only at the poles

• thermal energy from the Sun, which strikes Earth unevenly

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The diagram below shows a weather map of the United States. Which prediction is the least likely?

• Temperatures in Miami will not change very much.

• Rain is likely to continue in the Great Lakes area.

• Los Angeles will soon feel a drop in temperature.

• Temperatures in Dallas are likely to rise soon.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Along the West Coast of the United States, the temperature of the Pacific Ocean is cool during the summer. This means that summer storms over the Pacific —

• have difficulty intensifying because they cannot gain energy from the cool water.

• intensify easily because they lose energy to the cool water.

• intensify easily because they can gain energy from the cool water.

• have difficulty intensifying because they spend their energy warming the water.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Hurricanes and similar storm systems begin over oceans. The map below shows average surface temperatures of the oceans in the summer. Based on the map, which area probably produced the most violent storm systems?

• Area 1

• Area 2

• Area 3

• Area 4

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

In 2011, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines and caused widespread flooding. After hitting the Philippines, Typhoon Nesat was predicted to hit the large city of Hanoi, Vietnam. If Typhoon Nesat had continued along the same path, which development would most likely have reduced its strength before it hit Hanoi?

• The formation of a low-pressure area south of Bangkok

• The formation of a high-pressure area south of Bangkok

• Cool water moving into the sea east of Hanoi

• Warm water moving into the sea east of Hanoi

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6