Earth Science - Unit 8 - Climate

The planetary wind belts in the troposphere are primarily caused by the

• Earth's revolution and Sun's gravitational attraction on Earth's atmosphere

• Earth's rotation and unequal heating of Earth's surface

• Earth's rotation and Sun's gravitational attraction on Earth's atmosphere

• Earth's revolution and unequal heating of Earth's surface

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in eastern Africa at 3 degrees South. Which climate factor best explains the presence of permanent snow on its peak?

• ocean currents

• prevailing winds

• elevation

• latitude

Which process occurs when water vapor moves out of the leaves of a tree into the atmosphere?

• runoff

• infiltration

• transpiration

• condensation

Which process of the water cycle occurs when water absorbs 2260 Joules of heat energy per gram?

• freezing of water

• melting of ice

• evaporation of water

• condensation of water vapor

During the process of condensation, water vapor

• releases 2260 J/g of heat energy

• gains 2260 J/g of heat energy

• gains 334 J/g of heat energy

• releases 334 J/g of heat energy

Compared to the temperature and moisture of the air rising on the windward side, the temperature and moisture of the air descending at the same altitude on the leeward side will be

• warmer and more moist

• cooler and drier

• cooler and more moist

• warmer and drier

What are the most likely changes to atmospheric temperature and precipitation along the west coast of South America during El Nino conditions?

• higher temperatures and lower amounts of precipitation

• lower temperatures and lower amounts of precipitation

• lower temperatures and higher amounts of precipitation

• higher temperatures and higher amounts of precipitation

The climate at 90 degrees north latitude is dry because the air at that location is usually

• warm and sinking

• cool and rising

• warm and rising

• cool and sinking

On sunny summer days, a breeze often develops that blows from large bodies of water toward nearby land masses because the

• air over the bodies of water becomes heavier with additional water vapor

• specific heat of the land masses is greater

• temperatures of the bodies of water are greater

• temperature of the air above the land masses is greater

Under which set of atmospheric conditions does water usually evaporate at the fastest rate?

• cold temperatures, high winds, and high humidity

• cold temperatures, calm winds, and low humidity

• warm temperatures, calm winds, and high humidity

• warm temperatures, high winds, and low humidity