Atmosphere & Weather

All of the weather on Earth is caused by:

• Tectonic plates colliding at convergent plate boundaries.

• The uneven heating of Earth by the Sun.

• The moon's gravitational pull on the Earth.

• Oceanic currents causing upwelling and downwelling.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which map best represents the surface wind pattern around Northern Hemisphere high-pressure and low-pressure centers?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The map to the left shows a position of the polar jet stream over North America in January. Which map best shows the air-mass movements associated with this jet stream position?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The average monthly temperatures for Eureka, California, and Omaha, Nebraska, are plotted on the graph. The map indicates the locations of these two cities. What explains why Omaha has a greater variation in temperature throughout the year than Eureka.

• Omaha is closer to the equator than Eureka, causing the temperature to vary.

• The high elevation of Omaha allows for the temperature to vary throughout the year.

• Eureka is close to the coast line which helps regulate its temperature to vary throughout the year.

• The Polar Continental wind and the Tropical Maritime winds cause the greater changes in Omaha throughout the year.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Climates are classified according to two major factors:

• precipitation and temperature

• elevation and precipitation

• latitude and temperature

• elevation and latitude

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is not a requirement in the formation of thunderstorms?

• abundant source of moisture

• disturbance in the atmosphere

• mechanism to cause the air to rise

• electricity within the convection zone

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

A city located on the coast of North America has warmer winter and cooler summers than a city a the same elevation and latitude located near the center of North America. Which statement best explains the difference between the cities' climates?

• Ocean surfaces have a lower specific heat than land surfaces.

• Wind speeds are usually greater over land surfaces than over ocean surfaces.

• Ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly than land surfaces.

• Warm, moist air rises when it meets cool, dry air.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The diagram to the left represents the circulation of air above Earth's surface at a coastal location during the day and night. The local air movement is best described as an example of......

• convection resulting from temperature and pressure differences above land and water

• conduction between Earth's surface and the atmosphere above it

• great radiation from the warmer ocean during the day and from the warmer land at night

• condensation of water vapor during the day, and evaporation of water during the night

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What causes a hurricane to lose energy?

• heating from below by land

• lack of warm, moist air

• moving into cold water

• both b & c

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which event followed a massive volcanic eruption and led to the cooling of global temperatures?

• the outflow of magma over Earth's surface

• thunderstorms that developed near the eruption

• the addition of ash particles into the atmosphere

• the release of carbon dioxide and methane gases