ENSO quiz

El Niño, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions?

• Tropical Pacific

• Gulf of Mexico

• Arctic North Pacific

• Temperate West Atlantic

• Tropical Indian Ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is an impact that La Niña has on the food webs found in the tropical Pacific Ocean?

• Decreased phytoplankton concentrations

• Increased deaths among apex predators

• Increased populations of anchovies

• Suppressed nutrient upwellings

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following is a positive effect likely to result from an El Niño event?

• Increased droughts in Central and South America

• Reduced chance of winter floods in California and the Pacific Northwest

• Fewer hurricanes forming in the Central Atlantic basin

• Fewer heat waves in Australia

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following is the most likely effect of a strong El Niño event on the weather patterns in the United States?

• Wetter weather and cooler temperatures in the Pacific Northwest and warmer temperatures with more snow in the northeastern states

• Drier weather in the western states and wetter weather in the eastern states

• Wetter weather and cooler than average temperatures in the southeastern states and warmer temperature in the Pacific Northwest

• Overall warmer temperatures and drier conditions throughout the entire United States

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

During an El Niño event, warm surface water moves from the western equatorial Pacific Ocean to the eastern equatorial region. Which of the following best describes how the warm water will affect upwelling off the coast of equatorial South America?

• The warm surface water will not change upwelling because this region is at the equator and always has warm water.

• The warm surface water will increase upwelling because of the difference in salinity between the warm surface water and the cold deep water.

• The warm surface water will decrease upwelling because the cooler temperatures on land in the region will prevent upwelling.

• The warm surface water will decrease upwelling because of the density difference between the warm surface water and the cold deep water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Sun’s radiation provides the energy for all of the following EXCEPT

• plant growth

• ocean currents

• hurricanes

• plate tectonics

• cloud formation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What triggers the start of an El Niño event?

• A decrease in ocean temperature

• A volcanic eruption

• A change in wind patterns

• An increase in salinity

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why do the fisherman of Peru and South America not welcome a strong El Nino?

• El Nino poisons the fish

• El Nino causes strong winds and currents which move fish westward

• El Nino bring cold water to the surface which kills the base of the food chain

• El Nino shuts off upwelling and nutrients needed for the marine food chain do not rise to the surface

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

El Niño, a periodic warming of ocean surface waters, occurs in which of the following regions?

• Tropical East Pacific

• Gulf of Mexico

• Arctic North Pole

• Temperate West Atlantic

• Tropical Indian Ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

During __________ surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are colder than average.

• El Nino
• La Nina

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6