Understanding the ITCZ Quiz

What does the ITCZ stand for?

• Intertropical Convergence Zone

• Intercontinental Convergence Zone

• Intratropical Convergence Zone

• Intercontinental Convection Zone

What air mass brings moisture from the Gulf of Guinea to location C?

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass

• Polar Continental Air Mass

• Polar Maritime Air Mass

• Tropical Continental Air Mass

What causes the tropical maritime air mass to rise at the ITCZ?

• Variable pressure

• No pressure change

• Low pressure

• High pressure

Which location experiences the highest amount of rainfall when the ITCZ is overhead in January?

• None of the above

• Location C

• Location B

• Location A

Why does location B (Jos) have a peak of rainfall in June/July when the ITCZ passes overhead?

• Tropical Continental Air Mass brings moisture

• Tropical Continental Air Mass absorbs moisture from the desert

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass has lost moisture

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass absorbs moisture from the Gulf of Guinea

Why does location A (e.g. Timbuktu) experience very little rainfall when the ITCZ is overhead in July?

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass has absorbed moisture from the Gulf of Guinea

• Tropical Continental Air Mass brings moisture

• Tropical Continental Air Mass absorbs moisture from the desert

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass has lost moisture

What explains the drought conditions in Timbuktu during October/November/December?

• Tropical Continental Air Mass brings moisture

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass brings moisture

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass has lost moisture

• Tropical Continental Air Mass absorbs no moisture from the desert

What causes the second peak of rainfall in Lagos in the later months of the year?

• Tropical Maritime Air Mass has lost moisture

• Tropical Continental Air Mass brings moisture

• It receives a second pass of the ITCZ as the thermal equator moves south

• Tropical Continental Air Mass absorbs moisture from the desert

What is the source of fuel for the tropical maritime air mass as it passes over land towards location B?

• Gulf of Guinea

• Desert

• Ocean

• River

What causes the large amounts of moisture to be evaporated up and lead to heavy rainfall in Lagos in the later months of the year?

• No pressure change

• Variable pressure air

• Low pressure air

• High pressure air