Water Cycle and Weather Quiz

When water from rain flows over the land surface into rivers, lakes, and oceans, this process is called:

• Transpiration

• Infiltration

• Condensation

• Runoff

Which two primary forms of energy or force drive the continuous movement of water through the Earth's systems?

• Wind and tides

• Earth's rotation and earthquakes

• Sunlight and gravity

• Volcanic heat and chemical reactions

Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through transpiration. This shows water's interaction between the hydrosphere and which other Earth system?

• Geosphere

• Biosphere

• Atmosphere

• All of the above

Water's unique ability to dissolve many minerals and expand when it freezes makes it a powerful agent of:

• Photosynthesis

• Chemical and physical weathering

• Ocean current formation only

• Volcanic activity

When a cold air mass pushes into a warmer air mass, often bringing thunderstorms and then cooler, clear weather, this boundary is called a:

• Warm front

• Stationary front

• Cold front

• Occluded front

If a weather map shows a large 'L' symbol, what kind of weather conditions would you generally expect in that area?

• Clear skies and high pressure

• Dry, sunny, and calm conditions

• Cloudy, stormy, and possibly rainy conditions

• Constant freezing temperatures

Mountains can create a 'rain shadow' effect, where one side is wet and the other side is dry. This demonstrates how which factor influences local climate?

• Ocean currents

• Latitude

• Landforms

• Human population density

Weather and climate are complex because they result from constant interactions involving all of Earth's systems. Which of these systems is not typically considered a primary influence on weather and climate?

• The sun

• The atmosphere

• The core of the Earth

• The oceans

To develop effective evacuation plans for coastal areas, emergency managers would most likely analyze data on:

• Daily air temperatures

• Past hurricane paths and storm surge heights

• The types of trees in the area

• The average number of sunny days

Studying seismic data from earthquakes helps scientists to:

• Predict the exact time and location of the next earthquake with 100% certainty.

• Better understand plate boundaries and forecast areas prone to future seismic activity.

• Change the Earth's internal temperature.

• Control the weather in affected regions.