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WorksheetsRegents ES - Climate
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins
Which diagram best illustrates how air rising over a mountain produces precipitation?
A gradual increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide would warm Earth’s atmosphere because carbon dioxide is a
poor reflector of ultraviolet radiation
good reflector of ultraviolet radiation
poor absorber of infrared radiation
good absorber of infrared radiation
Land surfaces of Earth heat more rapidly than water surfaces because
more energy from the Sun falls on land than on water
land has a lower specific heat than water
sunlight penetrates to greater depths in land than in water
less of Earth’s surface is covered by land than by water
The map shows an imaginary continent on Earth. Arrows represent prevailing wind directions. Letters A through D represent locations on the continent. Locations A and B are at the same latitude and at the same elevation at the base of the mountains.
Over the course of a year, compared to location B, location A will have
less precipitation and a smaller temperature range
less precipitation and a greater temperature range
more precipitation and a smaller temperature range
more precipitation and a greater temperature range
The map shows an imaginary continent on Earth. Arrows represent prevailing wind directions. Letters A through D represent locations on the continent. Locations A and B are at the same latitude and at the same elevation at the base of the mountains.
The climate at location C is much drier than at location D. This difference is best explained by the fact that location C is located
farther from any mountain range
closer to a large body of water
at a latitude that experiences longer average annual daylight
at a latitude where air is sinking and surface winds diverge
The cross section represents the windward and leeward sides of a mountain. The arrows show the direction of air movement over the mountain. Points X and Y represent locations on Earth’s surface.
Compared to the temperature and water vapor content of the air at location X, the temperature and water vapor content at location Y are most likely
warmer and wetter
warmer and drier
cooler and wetter
cooler and drier
The planetary surface winds and air currents near Earth’s equator are usually
converging and sinking
diverging and sinking
converging and rising
diverging and rising
In addition to carbon dioxide, two other major greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere are
oxygen and nitrogen
oxygen and methane
water vapor and nitrogen
water vapor and methane
Earth’s polar regions have cold, dry climates because the Sun’s rays are at a
low angle, and upper atmospheric air is sinking
low angle, and upper atmospheric air is rising
high angle, and lower atmospheric air is sinking
high angle, and lower atmospheric air is rising
During explosive volcanic eruptions, large amounts of ash entering Earth’s atmosphere often rise to an altitude of 20 kilometers. What is the most likely effect of this ash cloud?
a decrease in the insolation reaching Earth’s surface
a decrease in the thickness of Earth’s stratosphere layer
an increase in the insolation reaching Earth’s surface
an increase in the thickness of Earth’s stratosphere layer
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in eastern Africa at 3° S. Which climate factor best explains the presence of permanent snow on its peak?
latitude
elevation
prevailing winds
ocean currents
In which cross section do the arrows represent the most probable direction of air movement over land and water surfaces at an ocean coast on a hot, sunny, summer afternoon?
Which natural event periodically weakens western surface ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, resulting in a change in air temperature and precipitation patterns in the United States?
El Nino
transpiration
ocean tides
volcanic eruptions
Ocean gyres in the Northern Hemisphere consist of a number of surface ocean currents that, together, generally flow clockwise in a roughly circular pattern. Which list contains three warm surface ocean currents that make up most of the North Atlantic Ocean gyre?
Kuroshio Current, North Pacific Current, and California Current
Canary Current, North Equatorial Current,
and Equatorial Countercurrent
Labrador Current, North Atlantic Current, and East Greenland Current
North Equatorial Current, Gulf Stream Current, and North Atlantic Current
The table shows the latitude and the average yearly temperature for four different cities.
It can be inferred from this table that the cities at higher latitudes have
lower average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a higher angle during the year
lower average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a lower angle during the year
higher average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a higher angle during the year
higher average yearly temperatures because these cities receive insolation at a lower angle during the year
Which event temporarily slows or reverses surface ocean currents in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, causing a disruption of normal weather patterns?
tsunami
volcanic eruption
El Niño
deforestation
Mt. Marcy often has the coldest nighttime temperatures in New York State because of its
latitude and planetary winds
latitude and elevation
longitude and planetary winds
longitude and elevation
Which graph best represents the average monthly temperatures for one year at a location in the Southern Hemisphere?
London, England, is located at approximately 51° 30' north latitude and 0° longitude. Elmira, New York, is located at approximately 42° 10' north latitude and 76° 54' west longitude. What is one reason why London has a warmer average winter temperature than Elmira?
London is located closer to the equator.
London is located at a higher elevation.
London’s climate is modified by the North Atlantic Ocean Current.
London’s climate is modified by its longer duration of insolation.
Which graph best shows the average annual amounts of precipitation received at different latitudes on Earth?
Two cities are located at the same latitude and elevation. One city, located in the center of the United States, has cooler winters and warmer summers than the other city, which is located near the coast. Which statement best explains these seasonal differences?
The air over continents is drier than the air over oceans.
Cold airmasses usually originate over continents.
A large body of water modifies coastal air temperatures.
Warm ocean currents flow along most coastlines.
The cross section shows how prevailing winds have caused different climates on the windwards and leeward sides of a mountain range.
Why does the windward side of this mountain have a wet climate?
Rising air compresses and cools, causing the water droplets to evaporate
Rising air compresses and warms, causing the water vapor to condense.
Rising air expands and cools, causing the water vapor to condense.
Rising air expands and warms, causing the water droplets to evaporate.
During which season does city B usually experience the month with the highest average precipitation?
spring
summer
fall
winter
City A has very little variation in temperature during the year because city A is located
on the dry side of a mountain
near the center of a large landmass
on the wet side of a mountain
near the equator
It can be concluded that city C is located in the Southern Hemisphere because city C has
small amounts of precipitation throughout the year
large amounts of precipitation throughout the year
its warmest temperatures in January and February
its warmest temperatures in July and August
Compared to land surface temperature changes, water surface temperature changes occur
more slowly because water has a lower specific heat
more slowly because water has a higher specific heat
faster because water has a lower specific heat
faster because water has a higher specific heat
The curved paths of the planetary winds are a result of
Which event is inferred by most scientists to be responsible for a climate change that has recently led to a decrease in the size of most glaciers?
a decrease in the rate of divergence of lithospheric plates along a mid-ocean ridge
a decrease in the amount of insolation reaching Earth's surface
an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere
an increase in the amount of vegetative cover in the tropics
Adjacent water and landmasses are heated by the morning Sun on a clear, calm day. After a few hours, a surface wind develops. Which map best represents this wind's direction?
Arrows on the maps below show differences in the direction of winds in the region of India and the Indian Ocean during January and July. Isobar values are recorded in millibars. Heavy monsoon rains usually occur in India during
January, when winds blow from the land
January, when winds blow toward high pressure
July, when winds blow from the ocean
July, when winds blow toward high pressure
