New SSA Review Weather and Climate

In the last 60 years, only four hurricanes have made landfall in Hawaii. How does the jet stream help prevent hurricanes from hitting Hawaii?

• The stream pushes hurricanes away from the islands

• The stream’s heated waters prevent hurricanes from forming

• The stream carries hurricanes past the islands

• The stream’s warm water turns hurricanes into rainstorms

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why does the jet stream NOT protect the rest of the U.S. from hurricanes?

• The islands block the jet stream from reaching the mainland

• The jet stream passes the islands but crosses the mainland

• Hurricanes on the mainland are not affected by the jet stream

• The jet stream dissipates before reaching the mainland

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Based on the diagram, what best describes where Irma originated?

• lithosphere

• biosphere

• atmosphere

• cryosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 tropical cyclone. Hurricanes demonstrate what kind of atmosphere/hydrosphere interaction?

• strong storm surges occurring in the Atlantic Ocean

• evaporation of water from tropical oceans transferring heat to the atmosphere

• movement of cold waters from west to east along the trade winds

• weak trade winds descending from polar global winds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

How could these changes in the cryosphere directly affect the biosphere of that region?

• Loss of ice means fewer hunting grounds for wildlife

• Rising sea level will mean more places for animals to swim

• More ice means more places for the plants to grow

• Lower sea levels will mean more land will be available

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

If the polar ice caps melt, how will this affect the hydrosphere?

• There will be more lakes

• The deserts will flood

• Sea levels will rise

• It will rain less

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

The Florida Keys were formed only 100,000 years ago. At this time, the glaciers of Earth had receded significantly, and the sea level had risen. Most of Florida was under a shallow sea, much like what currently exists off of the Florida coast. At this time, a shallow water reef formed from the corals that lived there. By the time of the next ice age, the sea levels dropped and these formations rose above the waves.

What is the best summary of this information?

• The hydrosphere changed the atmosphere, which changed the lithosphere, which changed the cryosphere

• The cryosphere changed the hydrosphere, which changed the biosphere, which changed the lithosphere

• The atmosphere changed the cryosphere, which changed the biosphere, which changed the hydrosphere

• The cryosphere changed the biosphere, which changed the lithosphere, which changed the hydrosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

Many Park Rangers in Everglades National Park are worried about the increasing salt levels of the vast wetlands.

Which is the most likely effect of this on the environment of the Everglades National Park?

• The hydrosphere would cause damage to the freshwater organisms of the biosphere

• The geosphere would become more chemically weathered from the salt

• The atmosphere of the Everglades would have more salt in the air due to evaporation

• The cryosphere would have a hard time forming because of the salt in the hydrosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Shane wants to explain how Earth’s spheres interact to his little sister.  He draws the following diagram for her.

How does the interaction of the two spheres Shane starred on his diagram affect weather patterns on Earth?

• Some water in the hydrosphere evaporates into the atmosphere, where it can later form rain clouds

• The lithosphere causes earthquakes that are damaging to the biosphere

• The biosphere uses up nearby water, causing heating of the lithosphere

• Some water in the atmosphere causes tornadoes that transport water to the hydrosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

How does the atmosphere affect the temperature on Earth?

• Wind speeds are increased, keeping the planet cool

• It helps hold heat in, keeping the planet warm

• Sunlight is reflected away, keeping the planet cool

• The gases expand as they rise, keeping the planet warm

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6