Earth's Atmospheric and Oceanic Currents

Andy lives in the southern hemisphere. What season does he most likely experience in August?

• spring
• summer
• winter
• autumn

Which has the greatest effect on the temperature of a region?

• the amount of plants it has
• the amount of rainfall it gets
• the amount of humans it has
• the amount of sunlight it gets

How does the ocean affect the weather along the coast of North Carolina?

• It causes less wind along the coastal areas than areas farther inland.
• It causes less severe weather along the coastal areas than areas farther inland.
• It causes less change in temperature along the coastal areas than areas farther inland.
• It causes more frequent changes in humidity along the coastal areas than areas farther inland.

Global atmospheric patterns are responsible for most local weather. Which causes these patterns to exist?

• mountain ranges
• greenhouse gases
• holes in the ozone layer
• unequal heating of Earth

Which best describes a storm surge?

• low ocean tides
• a fall in sea level
• a rise of ocean water
• strong ocean currents

Which best explains why El Niño could cause an increase in precipitation in California?

• Cooler ocean water causes the air to cool, which allows for more condensation to occur in the United States.
• Warmer ocean water allows for warm air to be blown toward the United States and cause droughts.
• Cooler ocean water causes the air to cool, and brings high air pressure to the United States.
• Warmer ocean water allows for warmer, wet air to travel east toward the United States.

Which best describes El Niño?

• The water in the Pacific Ocean gets warmer than normal and causes fewer hurricanes to form.
• The water in the Pacific Ocean gets colder than normal and causes more hurricanes to form.
• The water in the Pacific Ocean gets colder than normal, and the flow of the jet stream is disrupted.
• The water in the Pacific Ocean gets warmer than normal, and the flow of the jet stream is disrupted.

How will warm waters moving up from the Gulf Stream most likely affect the local weather conditions on a North Carolina beach?

• The sea breeze will increase in temperature.
• The sea breeze will decrease in temperature.
• The land breeze will increase in temperature.
• The land breeze will decrease in temperature.

Which weather conditions are associated with El Niño?

• increased temperature, increased precipitation
• decreased temperature, increased precipitation
• increased temperature, decreased precipitation
• decreased temperature, decreased precipitation

Which is most likely to happen when a tropical storm moves from the coast of Africa toward the United States, and water temperatures increase?

• The tropical storm will continue to move westward and decrease in strength.
• The tropical storm will continue to move westward and increase in strength.
• The tropical storm will change direction and begin to move eastwardand decrease in strength.
• The tropical storm will change direction and begin to move eastwardand increase in strength.