Chapter 5 Lesson 5 Climate

Subsurface ocean currents continually circulate from the warm waters near the equator to the colder waters in other parts of the world. What is the main cause of these currents?

• differences in the topography along the ocean floor
• differences in density of ocean water
• the rotation of Earth on its axis
• movement of the jet stream

A layer of carbon dioxide and other gases naturally warms earth's lower atmosphere and surface. Which of the following describes this natural warming process in earth's atmosphere?

• global warming
• formation of sun spots
• the greenhouse effect
• changes in the shape of earth's orbit

What phenomenon is most likely responsible for the currents’ circulation patterns?

• Coriolis effect
• density defferences
• Sun's tidal effect
• temperature differences

Scientists believe continental drift over Earth’s geological history has had a significant impact on Earth’s cycles of warmer and cooler climates. Which statement describes a characteristic of Earth’s continents that is most likely to cause changes in global climate when continents drift?

• The location of the continent affects amount of sunlight reflected.
• Continental plate depth determines its specific heat.
• Continental drift absorbs large amounts of kinetic energy.
• The temperature of a continent is affected by its nearest ocean.

The eastward movement of warm water in the Pacific Ocean during an El Niño event tends to cause which climatic effect?

• flooding on land masses in the western Pacific Ocean
• heavy rainfall over land masses in the eastern Pacific Ocean
• cold, windy conditions on land masses in the eastern Pacific Ocean
• frequent, shallow tsunamis reaching land masses in the western Pacific Ocean

What is the primary energy source driving circulation of ocean currents on Earth?

• geothermal heating
• planetary rotation
• solar heating
• lunar tidal forces

The mixing of cold Arctic Ocean water with warm surface Atlantic currents off the northwestern coast of Europe causes which effect?

• sinking of water as it circulates
• reversal of current direction back toward the European coast
• rise in water salinity and upwelling of affected currents
• rapid evaporation and acceleration of currents toward the pole

Which of these events is an example of a change in climate?

• Afternoon clouds form and block the sunlight
• A series of tornadoes occurs over a one-week period.
• An overnight temperature drop causes frost to form.
• The average amount of annual precipitation decreases.

In the centers of North America and Asia, large regions of land have relatively dry climates. This lack of rainfall results mainly from which factor?

• The centers of these continents have too few lakes and rivers for effective evaporation.
• The centers of these continents receive little heat from sunlight over most of the year
• The rate of air mass movement over the centers of these continents is relatively low.
• The distance from oceans prevents moist air from reaching the centers of these continents.

Which form of water, when present in the atmosphere, is most likely to contribute to global warming?

• cloud
• rain
• vapor
• snow