Quiz about Convection in the Atmosphere Winds and the Coriolis Effect

Question 1

A student wants to model the Coriolis effect. She spins a globe and then uses a marker to draw a line on it while it spins. She begins drawing near the North Pole and moves her hand directly toward the Equator.

Which diagram best represents the line drawn on the globe?

Accepted Answer

X

Answer

Z

Answer

W

Answer

Y

Question 2

In the United States, weather patterns generally move in which direction?

Accepted Answer

west to east

Answer

south to north

Answer

east to west

Answer

north to south

Question 3

In general, air masses along the southern U.S. tend to be made up of high-pressure air. Air closer to the north pole tends to be low pressure air.

Why does the high pressure air from the south not blow straight to the north?

Accepted Answer

Because the Earth's rotation turns the wind's path to the east.

Answer

Because the Earth's rotation turns the wind's path to the west.

Answer

Because winds blow from areas of low pressure to areas of high pressure.

Answer

Because the Earth's surface is heated evenly, canceling out any pressure differences.

Question 4

A sample of water evaporates from the Earth's surface and becomes a gas. The gas expands and rises high into the atmosphere. Eventually, the gas condenses and falls back to the ground as rain.

The water's movement through the atmosphere is an example of _______, which is driven by the Sun's _______.

Accepted Answer

convection; heat

Answer

conduction; heat

Answer

conduction; gravity

Answer

convection; gravity

Question 5

Ocean currents and global wind patterns, which are caused by convection currents, most strongly affect a region's...

Accepted Answer

climate.

Answer

day length.

Answer

latitude.

Answer

population size.

Question 6

Convection currents, which affect weather and climate, are created by

Accepted Answer

the uneven heating of the Earth.

Answer

slow, constant tectonic movement.

Answer

mining of the seafloor.

Answer

erosion of ocean beaches.

Question 7

Which of the following factors drives all the weather on Earth, including large-scale storms and local weather systems?

Accepted Answer

The Sun heats up the air at different rates, and the atmosphere undergoes changes to equalize temperatures and pressures.

Answer

The Coriolis effect curves the motion of wind due to the Earth's rotation.

Answer

The ocean holds thermal energy more efficiently than land.

Answer

The greenhouse effect ensures that some thermal energy will always be trapped near the Earth's surface.

Question 8

The atmosphere is heated both by the Sun and by the Earth's surface. Water radiates heat differently than land, so the air temperature over the ocean is usually different than the air temperature over land.

The difference in air temperature over land compared to over water causes convection currents in the atmosphere. How would a person at the beach experience these convection currents?

Accepted Answer

They would feel wind as the air moves.

Answer

They would feel that the sand is hot.

Answer

They would feel the heat of the Sun.

Answer

They would feel that the water is cold.

Question 9

As the Earth rotates, winds are created that blow in a single direction over a specific area. These winds are responsible for moving clouds around the Earth and creating patterns of weather in different locations around the world.

What are these winds that move in a single direction over a specific area called?

Accepted Answer

prevailing winds

Answer

hurricane force winds

Answer

local winds

Answer

sea breezes

Question 10

Solar energy heats the surface of the Earth, including the ground, rocks, and even roadways. As the temperature of these surfaces increases, heat energy is released back into the atmosphere, forming a pocket of warm air. As the warm air pocket rises, it is replaced by cooler air.

This process is responsible for many of the weather patterns in our atmosphere, and is known as

Accepted Answer

convection.

Answer

evaporation.

Answer

transpiration.

Answer

conduction.

Question 11

Radiation transfers energy from the Sun to various parts of the Earth and its atmosphere. What process is driven by this transfer of energy?

Accepted Answer

the global circulation of the atmosphere and oceans

Answer

the constant pattern of ocean tides

Answer

the movement of tectonic plates across Earth's surface

Answer

the spinning of Earth on its axis

Question 12

Convection currents, resulting from uneven heating of the Earth's surface, cause _______ to form.

Accepted Answer

wind

Answer

volcanoes

Answer

mountains

Answer

fossils

Question 13

Global winds are directly caused by the Earth's rotation and

Accepted Answer

uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

Answer

uneven precipitation rates.

Answer

the Moon's phases.

Answer

the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 14

Marie drew a diagram to describe atmospheric convection.

What causes atmospheric convection?

Accepted Answer

The Sun's energy heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise.

Answer

The Sun's energy cools the ground, cooling air at the surface and causing the air to sink.

Answer

Energy from deep in the Earth heats the ground, heating air at the surface and causing the air to rise.

Answer

Energy from deep in the Earth cools the ground, cooling air at the surface and causing the air to sink.

Question 15

The image shows the Earth's jet streams. In this picture, most of the United States lies in the yellow zone between the polar jet and the subtropical jet streams. The United States is marked with an X.

Based on the directions in which air moves in the jet streams, how would you expect weather patterns in the United States to move?

Accepted Answer

from west to east

Answer

from east to west

Answer

from south to north

Answer

from north to south

Question 16

Look at the diagram.

If the primary source of atmospheric thermal energy on Earth is energy from the Sun, what conclusion can be made from the diagram?

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere at the Earth's equator is always warmer than the atmosphere at its poles.

Answer

The atmosphere of the Northern Hemisphere is always warmer than that of the Southern Hemisphere.

Answer

The atmosphere at the Earth's poles is always warmer than the atmosphere at its equator.

Answer

The atmosphere of the Southern Hemisphere is always warmer than that of the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 17

Global winds are found in each convection region. Because convection cells are in a set place in the atmosphere and the Earth is spinning on its axis, the winds appear to curve.

The apparent curving of the winds is called _______.

Accepted Answer

the Coriolis effect

Answer

the Curvature effect

Answer

the global wind effect

Answer

atmospheric curving

Question 18

The following image shows two jet streams in the Northern Hemisphere. The polar jet stream carries cold air. The subtropical jet stream carries warm air.

In the summer, the polar jet stream is usually north of the United States. In the winter, the polar jet moves down, often past the place marked with an "X". How will the weather at point X change as the polar jet moves from north of it to south of it?

Accepted Answer

It will get cooler.

Answer

It will get warmer.

Answer

The weather will stay the same.

Answer

The winds will change direction.

Question 19

When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it. The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands. What does this process typically result in on the ground?

Accepted Answer

Cooler air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.

Answer

Freezing conditions near the ground generate a high pressure system.

Answer

Floodwater rushes in to cool the hot surface.

Answer

Clouds push the warm air back to the ground.

Question 20

The steam that can be seen coming out of a boiling kettle consists of condensing water droplets. These water droplets move upward with the hot water vapor coming out of the kettle.

The process of hotter air rising and cooler air falling is called convection. What role does convection play in the atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

Convection currents distribute heat in the atmosphere.

Answer

Convection prevents the air in the atmosphere from moving.

Answer

Convection makes the air warmer at higher altitudes.

Answer

Convection transfers heat from the atmosphere to the ocean.

Question 21

Which of the following are major influences on weather and climate?

Accepted Answer

I, III, and IV only

Answer

I, II, and III only

Answer

II, III, and IV only

Answer

I, II, and IV only.

Question 22

The atmosphere flows in large convection currents. What happens during atmospheric convection?

Accepted Answer

Warm air rises, and cool air sinks.

Answer

Cool air rises, and warm air sinks.

Answer

Warm air circles pockets of cool air.

Answer

Cool air circles pockets of warm air.

Question 23

Sunlight hits the Earth at an angle. As a result of the tilt of the Earth, some areas of the Earth receive more direct sunlight than others, which means they receive more solar energy.

Which statement correctly describes how solar energy changes as latitude changes?

Accepted Answer

Lower latitudes receive more solar energy than higher latitudes.

Answer

The equator receives the least solar energy compared to any other latitude.

Answer

The poles receive the most solar energy of all places on the Earth.

Answer

Oceans and lakes receive more solar energy than land masses.

Question 24

When you feel wind, you are feeling the movement of Earth's atmosphere. Imagine that the pocket of atmosphere above your town is heated by the Sun.

Which of the following best describes the movement that will take place in that pocket of atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

The heated air will rise, and cooler air will move into its place.

Answer

The heated air will vibrate in place, causing a swirling wind.

Answer

There will be no movement; heated air does not have the energy move.

Answer

The heated air will sink down to the surface.

Question 25

The map below shows the continental United States. Weather patterns in the United States generally move in predictable ways.

If the state of Nebraska has a heat wave, which state would most likely feel the same heat wave within the next day or two?

Accepted Answer

Indiana

Answer

Texas

Answer

North Dakota

Answer

Utah

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