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Worksheets

8th Grade Weather and Climate

Total questions: 76

Worksheet time: 2hrs 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What causes global convection currents

a)

Forests

b)

greenhouse gases

c)

more land forms

d)

uneven heating of the Earth's surface

2.

Where do warm ocean currents come from

a)

the poles

b)

near the land

c)

the equator

d)

middle of the oceans

3.

What city will experience decreasing temperatures in the next day?

a)

Denver

b)

El Paso

c)

Memphis

d)

Los Angeles

4.

What does this symbol represent?

a)

Cold Front

b)

Warm Front

c)

Stationary Front

d)

Occluded Front

5.
The sun's energy causes heat to be redistributed around the globe through a process called...
a)
Convection
b)
Conduction
c)
Radiation
d)
Election
6.
A High Pressure system generally brings...
a)
Wet Weather
b)
Clear Skies
c)
Thunderstorms
d)
Tornadoes
7.

A low pressure system usually causes

a)

Clearing Weather

b)

Wet Weather

c)

Fair Weather

d)

No weather

8.
The way Earth's rotation makes the winds curve
a)
Coriolis Effect
b)
Cuticle Effect
c)
Revolution
d)
rotation
9.

Cold fronts bring _____ temperatures and ______ conditions.

a)

warm; clear

b)

cool; clear

c)

warm; stormy

d)

cool; stormy

10.

What do ocean currents do for Earth's climate?

a)

They cause earthquakes

b)

They cause tectonic plates to shift

c)

They redistribute Earth's heat

d)

They carry trash from Africa to South America

11.
What direction is the cold front moving?
a)
Northwest
b)
Southeast
c)
Northeast
d)
Southwest
12.

Why do you see precipitation near the L?

a)

because that is low pressure and that is where air rises, forming clouds

b)

because that is where air is falling and it brings rain with it

c)

because the mid-west is always rainy this time of year

d)

because cold more dense air is sinking forming clouds

13.

When convection occurs

a)

cool and warm gases or liquids sink.

b)

cool and warm gases or liquids rise.

c)

warm gases or liquids rise and cool gases or liquids sink.

d)

warm and cool gases or liquids sink and cool gases or liquids rise..

14.

Tropical, temperate, and polar climate zones occur because of

a)

the jet stream.

b)

unequal heating of the Earth.

c)

altitude.

d)

the Coriolis Effect.

15.

Winds are caused by differences in

a)

precipitation.

b)

air pressure.

c)

latitudes..

d)

fronts

16.

Factors that affect climate are

a)

global and local winds.

b)

topography and ocean currents.

c)

latitude and altitude.

d)

all of the above.

17.

Global winds curve because of the Earth's rotation. This is called

a)

Local Winds.

b)

Jet Stream.

c)

Coriolis Effect.

d)

Convection

18.

Global winds curve because of the Earth's rotation. This is called

a)

Local Winds.

b)

Jet Stream.

c)

Coriolis Effect.

d)

Convection

19.

Global winds curve because of the Earth's rotation. This is called

a)

Local Winds.

b)

Jet Stream.

c)

Coriolis Effect.

d)

Convection

20.

Ocean currents are the result of uneven heating of the water, which leads to

a)

conduction

b)

convection

c)

reflection

d)

condensation

21.

Which type of front is pictured in the diagram?

a)

cold front

b)

stationary front

c)

warm front

d)

occluded front

22.

The weather forecaster says there will be rain over the next several days. This indicates a(n):

a)

cold front

b)

stationary front

c)

warm front

d)

occluded front

23.

In which city are thunderstorms likely to occur? (look carefully; there could be two fronts connected in a single line)

a)

San Diego

b)

Chicago

c)

Tulsa

d)

Boston

24.

This weather instrument measures air pressure.

a)

Anemometer

b)

Thermometer

c)

Barometer

d)

Weather Balloon

25.

This weather instrument measures wind speed

a)

Anemometer

b)

Thermometer

c)

Barometer

d)

Weather Balloon

26.

This type of front pushes moist air up. Pressure increases.

a)

Warm Front

b)

Cold Front

c)

Stationary Front

d)

Occluded Front

27.

Cool air mass typically have....

a)

High pressure and clear weather

b)

High pressure and rainy/stormy weather

c)

Low pressure and clear weather

d)

Low pressure and rainy/stormy weather

28.

Warm air masses typically have....

a)

High pressure and clear weather

b)

High pressure and rainy/stormy weather

c)

Low pressure and clear weather

d)

Low pressure and rainy/stormy weather

29.

Warm air rising and cool air falling produce a....

a)

Direct Current

b)

Convection Current

c)

Alternating Current

d)

Indirect Current

30.
How does a hurricane form?
a)
It begins as a high-pressure area over cold ocean water.
b)
It begins as a low-pressure system area over warm ocean water.
c)
It beings as a high-pressure area over warm ocean water.
d)
It begins as a low-pressure area over cold ocean water.
31.
What type of information can usually be found on a weather map?
a)
Fronts
b)
Precipitation
c)
Areas of high and low pressure
d)
All of the answers are correct
32.
What type of air mass would form over the northern Atlantic Ocean?
a)
Continental Polar Air Mass
b)
Maritime Tropical Air Mass
c)
Maritime Polar Air Mass
d)
Continental Tropical Air Mass
33.
What two characteristics are used to classify air masses?
a)
Elevation and speed of movement
b)
Temperature and humidity
c)
Humidity and speed of movement
d)
Temperature and elevation
34.
What statement best describes global winds but not local winds?
a)
They occur over a large area of Earth's surface.
b)
They are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface.
c)
They occur when cool air moves close to Earth's surface.
d)
They occur when hot air rises and moves up from the Earth's surface.
35.
Why do the paths of global winds curve?
a)
Differences in air temperature
b)
Differences in air pressure
c)
Earth's revolution around the sun
d)
Earth's rotation on its axis
36.

The top floor of your house always seem to have a higher temperature than the 1st floor. What heat transfer method is responsible for this process?

a)

radiation

b)

convection

c)

conduction

d)

condensation

37.

The climate of a location is constantly changing.

a)

true

b)

false

38.

What type of air mass would form over the warm waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean?

a)

Maritime polar (mP)

b)

Maritime tropical (mT)

c)

Continental polar (cP)

d)

Continental tropical (cT)

39.

Cold fronts bring _____ temperatures and ______ conditions.

a)

warm; fair

b)

cool; fair

c)

warm; stormy

d)

cool; stormy

40.

What type of conditions are associated with low pressure systems?

a)

cloudy, rainy, or stormy conditions

b)

fair skies with no chance of precipitation

41.

A warm front usually brings what type of weather conditions?

a)

cold temperatures with stormy conditions

b)

warmer temperatures with a slight chance of precipitation

c)

cooler weather all day

d)

warmer temperatures with strong storms

42.
Climate or Weather?
Oklahoma saw 2 tornadoes, 57 lightning strikes, 9 inches of rain, and high winds every day this week.
a)
Climate
b)
Weather
43.
Climate or Weather?
It is usually mild during the winter in the southern states of the United States.
a)
Climate
b)
Weather
44.

Which statement describes why the Earth has seasons?

a)

The Earth's axis is titled as it revolves around the sun.

b)

The Earth's distance changes as it revolves around the sun.

c)

The moon revolves around the Earth.

d)

The sun's axis is tilted.

45.

Many factors are used to determine the climate of an area. Which of the following is one of the two main factors that determine climate?

a)

humidity

b)

air pressure

c)

wind conditions

d)

precipitation

46.

Earth's tilt on its axis and movement around the sun create ____.

a)

seasons

b)

day and night

c)

ocean currents

d)

rain shadows

47.

Earth's spherical shapes causes places near the ___ to be closer to the sun, thus warmer.

a)

poles

b)

equator

48.

As warm air rises, cooler air moves in to take its place, creating ___.

a)

ocean currents

b)

wind

c)

storm surges

d)

fronts

49.
What is a front?
a)
A place where air masses meet
b)
the front part of a storm
c)
An area of very high wind
d)
an area that has fair weather
50.
rapidly moving cold air  mass runs into a warm air mass the cold air slides under the warm air. This is called a  .....
a)
cold front
b)
warm front
c)
stationary front
51.
What type of weather would you expect to see after a cold front has passed through an area?
a)
cool and clear skies
b)
warm and humid
c)
thunderstorms
d)
foggy
52.
Where would you find a tropical maritime air mass?
a)
over the ocean, near the equator
b)
over the ocean, near the poles
c)
over a continent, near the equator
d)
over a continent, near the poles
53.
Which type of front is pictured?
a)
Cold front
b)
Warm front
c)
Occluded front
d)
Stationary front
54.
Which system results in rainy or stormy weather?
a)
high pressure
b)
low pressure
c)
hurricane
d)
weather system
55.

How are the convection currents in the lava lamp different than convection currents in the atmosphere?

a)

warm air in the atmosphere sinks instead of rises

b)

The earth gets its heat from the sun and the lava lamp gets its heat from the light bulb below.

c)

Convection cells in the atmosphere flow in the same direction instead of opposite

d)

Cold air is less dense instead of being more dense.

56.

One of the major ways oceans contribute to weather systems is that the oceans -

a)

provide a diverse habitat for many organisms

b)

store and transport the Sun's heat energy.

c)

experience changes in amounts of dissolved salt.

d)

reach depths that can be as much as 12,000 meters.

57.

What is considered the driving force for Earth's climate

a)

Rain

b)

Moon phases

c)

Earth Rotation

d)

The Sun

58.

Cold air is denser than warm air, so it sinks. What kind of pressure area does this create?

a)

Dense pressure

b)

High pressure

c)

Low pressure

d)

No pressure

59.

What is wind?

a)

Large scale movement of air caused by differences in air pressure and temperature

b)

Large scale movement of CO2 caused by differences in air pressure

c)

Large scale movement of air caused by differences in temperature

d)

Large scale movement of temperature caused by differences in air pressure

60.
The tendency for objects to move to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and the to the left in the Southern Hemisphere is due to the:
a)
Eckman's spiral
b)
Coriolis effect
c)
Westerlies
d)
Gyres
61.

In a convection current, rising warm air is replaced by cooler, _________________ air that sinks beside it.

a)

A. denser

b)

B. less dense

c)

C. stable

62.

What causes the global wind patterns?

a)

A. Differences in pressure and temperature

b)

B. Differences in humidity

c)

C. Differences in salinity

63.

Weather fronts are caused by interactions between air masses of different ________________________.

a)

A. latitude and logitude

b)

B. temperature and humidity

c)

C. forms of precipitation

64.

The weather map below shows the locations of a high-pressure center (H) and a low-pressure center (L), air masses cP and mT, and city A. Explain why city A has clear sky conditions.

a)

City A is near a high pressure system

b)

City A is near a low pressure system

65.

At the equator, the air is:

a)

warm, less dense, and rising

b)

warm, more dense, and rising

c)

cool, more dense, and sinking

d)

cool, less dense, and sinking

66.

Global winds travel from:

a)

high to low pressure

b)

low to high pressure

c)

high pressure to cool temperatures

d)

low pressure to cold temperatures

67.

Atmospheric convection helps to distribute —

a)

magnetic energy from Earth's core, which flows to the surface unevenly

b)

gravitational energy from Earth's core, which is strongest at the equator

c)

visible light from the Sun, which strikes Earth only at the poles

d)

thermal energy from the Sun, which strikes Earth unevenly

68.
How do we name air masses?
a)
Water and temperature
b)
Air pressure
c)
Humidity and temperature
d)
Cold and warm
69.
How do we characterize an air mass that forms over the ocean?
a)
Dry
b)
Wet
c)
Cold
d)
Warm
70.
How do we characterize an air mass that forms near the poles?
a)
Dry
b)
Wet
c)
Warm
d)
Cold
71.
What's the humidity and temperature of a continental tropical air mass?
a)
Wet and cold
b)
Dry and warm
c)
Wet and warm
d)
Dry and cold
72.
When two different air masses collide...
a)
A front forms
b)
They casually become one
c)
A new planet evolves
d)
Dinosaurs become extinct
73.
What color is the symbol for a cold front ?
a)
red
b)
blue
74.
Occluded fronts include
a)
2 cold air masses and 1 warm
b)
2 warm air masses and 1 cold
75.
Which type of air would you find at air mass A?
a)
cold, dry
b)
warm, humid
c)
warm, dry
d)
cold, humid
76.

Which type of weather front can produce precipitation (rain or snow)?

a)

Cold

b)

Warm

c)

Stationary

d)

Occluded

e)

All of the above