Factors that affect climate

What causes the cycle of seasons on Earth?

• the tilt of Earth’s axis

• the shape of Earth’s orbit

• the direction of Earth’s orbit

• the distance between Earth and the Sun

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What happens when the south end of Earth’s axis is tilted toward the Sun?

• The Northern Hemisphere experiences fall.

• The Northern Hemisphere experiences spring.

• The Southern Hemisphere experiences winter

• The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which season occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky?

• fall

• spring

• summer

• winter

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

During which two months do both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receive the same amount of energy from the Sun?

• December and June

• January and July

• March and September

• May and November

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement describes solstices?

• They occur when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky.

• They affect the amount of sunlight in the Southern Hemisphere in May.

• They contribute to the cycling of winters all year long in the Northern Hemisphere.

• They increase the amount of rays from the Sun directly received in the Southern Hemisphere.

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

Which statement describes the weather and climate in a tropical region?

• The angle of the Sun’s rays affects daylight hours, creating warm temperatures all year.

• The temperature is different in summer and winter because the region is at a high elevation.

• The angle of the Sun’s rays controls the amount of precipitation experienced in the region.

• Rain in the summer and drought in the winter occur because the region is at a high elevation.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which statement best describes how the distance from a large river affects an area’s climate in the summer?

• The closer an area is to a large river, the more moderate its climate will be in the summer.
• Proximity to a large river has no impact on an area's summer climate.
• Areas close to large rivers have extreme climate conditions in the summer.
• The farther an area is from a large river, the cooler its climate will be in the summer.

Which accurately describes one way that coastal mountains affect a region’s climate?

• They determine the way that large masses of cool, dry air move over land.

• They control the amount of water vapor present in cool, dry air masses.

• They decrease precipitation on the windward sides of mountain ranges.

• They force cool, moist air from oceans to rise as it moves toward land.

Which describes a way that prevailing winds control precipitation totals in a region?

• They cause oceanic winds to carry water vapor.

• They force cool, moist air from oceans to rise as it moves toward land.

• They increase the occurrence of droughts in the winter.

• They reduce rainfall on the leeward side of a mountain.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-6