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WorksheetsAtmosphere & Weather (RHS)
Total questions: 28
Worksheet time: 14mins
Most ultraviolet (UV) rays are deflected or absorbed by the atmosphere, but some of these rays pass easily through the atmosphere and penetrate Earth's surface.
Which substance in the atmosphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet rays?
chlorofluorocarbon
ozone
nitrogen
water
How does air density affect air pressure in a cyclonic storm?
Warm air rises, creating an area of low pressure under it.
Cool air rises, creating an area of low pressure under it.
Warm air rises, creating an area of high pressure under it.
Cool air rises, creating an area of high pressure under it.
How does the ocean affect (provide energy for) the formation of hurricanes?
Ocean water is cool and cools the air above it
Ocean water is warm and heats the air above it.
Ocean water contains salt that reacts with air, changing the air pressure.
Ocean water contains algae that make oxygen, changing the air's composition.
How do hurricanes form and move?
The storms form at the equator and initially move west.
The storms form at the equator and initially move south.
The storms form at the northern mid-latitude and initially move west.
The storms form at the northern mid-latitude and initially move south.
The air masses that interact to form hurricanes and cyclones rise and fall due to changes in air density and pressure. Why do these storms also spin?
Ocean currents drag the air above them in circles.
The Moon's gravity pulls air currents with the tides.
Low pressure air pushes high pressure air sideways.
Earth's rotation causes the air to turn as it moves north.
Auroras occur where Earth's magnetosphere traps high-energy particles in which region of the atmosphere?
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere
The average yearly rainfall in Miami, FL is about 58 inches. During the year, Miami goes through a dry period where it receives very little rainfall. Which factor is MOST likely responsible for the dry period?
cold air moving in from the north
distance from the Gulf Stream current
location of latitude north of the equator
warm air moving in from the Atlantic Ocean
Tornadoes can occur throughout the U.S. One area where most of the tornadoes occur is known as Tornado Alley.
Which environmental factors MOST likely impact the formation of tornadoes in this area?
high pressure systems colliding with other high pressure systems
cold dry air and warm dry air moving towards each other
low evaporation rates and windy conditions
cool dry air colliding with warm moist air
Hurricanes typically form during predictable times of year and in certain locations on Earth. Which factor BEST enables climatologists to forecast the time and location of hurricane formation?
ocean currents and temperature
distance from the Sun
thickness of the ozone layer
angle of sunlight on Earth
The arrows on the map represent the movement of air masses across North America.
Air mass 1 would MOST likely bring which weather conditions to a region?
cool and dry
warm and dry
cool and humid
warm and humid
Which statement BEST explains why the force of a hurricane diminishes as the hurricane moves over land?
A high pressure area develops
The sea level rises on the coast
The winds start to spin clockwise
The supply of warm, moist air decreases
A student reads the following statement: "The presence of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere is important to Earth's ability to support human life."
How would Earth be different without greenhouse gases in its atmosphere?
More heat from solar radiation would escape into space.
More solar radiation would be reflected back into space.
More solar radiation would penetrate Earth's crust and mantle.
More heat from solar radiation would be stored in Earth's core.
Which gas accounts for the largest percentage of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
carbon monoxide
carbon dioxide
nitrous oxide
water vapor
Convection currents are formed in the atmosphere when warm air rises and is a result of
chemical composition
thermal conductivity
density differences
specific heat
High-pressure systems stop air from rising into the colder regions of the atmosphere where water can condense (ex: clouds). What will MOST likely result if a high-pressure system remains in an area for a long period of time?
fog
rain
drought
tornado
As a warm moist air mass moving northward collides with a strong cold air mass moving southward, what observations will MOST likely be made?
thick fog develops
temperatures increase
clouds begin to form
winds die down
A world map with lines of latitude and longitude is shown.
At which location would a tropical air mass MOST likely form?
20 N, 120 W
40 N, 70 W
60 S, 30 E
80 S, 10 E
What would a warm air mass over the ocean MOST likely cause?
earthquake
snowfall
tsunami
rainfall
What are the characteristics of maritime polar air masses?
cool and dry
warm and dry
cool and humid
warm and humid
A high pressure system (H) is moving to the southeast as shown on the weather map. Cold air is usually found north and west of a high pressure system. Warm air is to the south and east of the front.
Based on this information, what is the BEST prediction for weather on the day after the system passes the point marked "X"?
wet air with cooler temperatures
drier air with cooler temperatures
wet air with warmer temperatures
drier air with warmer temperatures
Air masses have the same properties as the surface over which they develop.
If an air mass develops over Region 1, which properties will it MOST likely have?
hot and dry
cold and dry
hot and moist
cool and moist
The diagram shows a very cold air mass moving over a large, warm lake.
When cold air in the winter passes over large bodies of warm water, moisture is picked up. As the air rises rapidly over land,
lightning generally occurs.
precipitation generally occurs.
cold fronts become warm fronts.
hurricanes are formed.
The arrow on the map below shows the location of an air mass near the Gulf of Mexico.
An air mass that moves from the land north (Texas) of the Gulf would be . . .
cool and dry
cool and humid
warm and humid
warm and dry
A stationary air mass over the Gulf of Mexico would typically be
warm and dry
warm and humid
cool and dry
cool and humid
This layer of the earth's atmosphere contains most of the mass of the atmosphere and is the closest to Earth's surface.
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
What front is being forecast for this state?
cold front
warm front
stationary front
occluded front
A hurricane has been classified as a category 3 hurricane. Which of the following is definitely NOT true?
the hurricane cannot get any stronger
the hurricane has winds of 200 km/h
the hurricane cannot get any weaker
the hurricane has sea level changes of 4.0 m
A hurricane hits land with wind speeds of 225 km/h and sea level changes of 5.5 m. What damage classification would it be labeled as according to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale?
catastrophic
moderate
extensive
extreme
