MS-ESS2-6 Atmospheric Convection & Climate pt1

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

• slow, constant tectonic movement.

• erosion of ocean beaches.

• the uneven heating of the Earth.

• mining of the seafloor.

The following image is a cross-section showing how air near the Earth's surface generally moves. It also shows how the polar jet stream tends to cause rain, while the subtropical jet stream tends to bring dry weather. The bottom of the image shows the latitude—the approximate distance from the equator—of each jet stream's average position.

Image modified from image courtesy of NOAA/NWS

Based on this image, where are deserts and other dry climates most likely to be located?

• near 60° latitude

• near the subtropical jet

• near the polar jet

• near the equator

The atmosphere flows in large convection currents.

What happens during atmospheric convection?

• Cool air rises, and warm air sinks.

• Cool air circles pockets of warm air.

• Warm air circles pockets of cool air.

• Warm air rises, and cool air sinks.

The image below models how air can move by convection at the Earth's equator.

Which statement best describes this process?

• Differences in air density cause the rising and sinking of air.

• Convection currents are driven by the orbit of Earth around the Sun.

• Differences in gravity at various latitudes causes the rising and sinking of air.

• Convection currents on Earth are driven by the gravitational pull of the Sun.

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?

• Oceans and lakes receive more solar energy than land masses.

• Lower latitudes receive more solar energy than higher latitudes.

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

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

The following 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.

Image courtesy of NOAA/NWS

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

• from north to south

• from south to north

• from east to west

• from west to east

Global climate and weather patterns are driven by differences in the amount of heat energy in different areas of the Earth. Which statement best explains why different areas of the Earth have different amounts of heat energy?

• The gravitational energy from the Sun varies greatly in different regions of the Earth.

• The Earth spins at different rates so the rotational energy of the Earth varies.

• The solar radiation from the Sun is equally distributed across the Earth at all times.

• The Earth receives different amounts of solar energy in different regions.

Look at the diagram below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• The ocean holds thermal energy more efficiently than land.

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

• the Moon's phases.

• uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

• the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

• uneven precipitation rates.