Earth Systems Review

The diagram shows a cell of air circulation within Earth's atmosphere.

What is causing movement inside the cell?

• The warm, low-pressure air heated by the Sun near the equator is moving toward the poles along the surface, while high-pressure air cooled at the poles moves toward the equator in the upper atmosphere.

• The Sun is radiating energy to the top of the atmosphere, increasing the air's density and causing it to sink and be replaced by the cooler,

  lighter air.

• The warm, high-pressure air heated by the Sun near the poles is moving toward the equator along the surface, while cool, low-pressure air cooled at the equator moves toward the poles in

  the upper atmosphere.

• The air is convecting as the air near Earth's surface pulls the cold out of the ground, rises, and is replaced by warmer, denser air.

When warm, moist air moves away from the sea

and toward a mountain range, what is most likely to happen?

• The air will be compacted and will intensify, creating tornadoes on the windward side of the mountain.

• The air will be split by the mountains and will flow around them to the other side.

• The air will be forced upward and cooled, releasing moisture on the windward side of the mountain.

• The air will be reflected by the mountains and will flow back toward the coast.

Directions: The table above shows the characteristics of Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane that traveled through the Gulf of Mexico and hit the southeastern part of the United States in 2005. Use the information to answer any questions that follow.

Once Katrina hit land in 2005, one effect of Q on local ecosystems could have been

• less plant matter in water systems.

• fallen trees and destroyed habitats.

• increased squirrel populations.

• larger sand dunes on coastlines.

How would life on Earth be affected if the atmosphere did NOT contain greenhouse gases?

• There would likely be a few less organisms on

  Earth because the lack of greenhouse gases

  would make Earth a little cooler.

• There would likely not be life on Earth because

  its surface would be much colder and Earth's

  water would be frozen.

• There would likely be more diverse life on Earth

  because the lack of greenhouse gases would

  make Earth just a little warmer.

• There would likely not be life on Earth because

  Earth's surface would be much hotter without

  the Sun's rays being blocked.

Which of the following is a significant result of

changing wind patterns on the Indian

subcontinent in summertime?

• heavy rainfall

• tidal acceleration

• massive typhoons

• storm surges

What type of storm front is this? 

• warm front

• cold front

• stationary front

• occluded front

What does symbol # 3 mean?

• stationary front

• occluded front

• warm front

• cold front

Which system results in rainy or stormy weather?

• high pressure

• low pressure

• hurricane

• weather system

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is located on a divergent tectonic plate boundary located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The plates spread apart about 2.5 centimeters each year releasing thermal energy. Which of the following earth systems are impacted by the movement of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?

• atmosphere and biosphere

• cryosphere and hydrosphere

• geosphere and cryosphere

• hydrosphere and geosphere

Which portion of the geosphere includes the Earth’s crust and the upper mantle?

• atmosphere

• cryosphere

• hydrosphere

• lithosphere