Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate Review

Cleveland averages 34 degrees in the winter. What is the source of most of the energy that causes this temperature?

• trees

• coal and oil

• volcanoes

• the sun

• none of the above

Answer explanation

The sun is the main source of energy in our climate system.

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Lindsay is studying the amount of rainfall in the Amazon Rainforest. She wants to describe it using cause and effect. How could she do that?

• She can’t. It is impossible to determine which factors cause a particular amount of rainfall and which factors are effects.

• She can describe the one cause for the amount of rainfall - each effect has one cause.

• She can’t. Some things, like the amount of rainfall, do not have a cause; they just happen.

• She can describe more than one cause. There can be more than one cause for the effect - amount of rainfall.

Answer explanation

There can be more than one cause for an effect.

Michael is using what he knows about cause-and-effect relationships to write a paper explaining the growth of pea plants. How could he describe cause and effect in his paper?

• There is only one cause for pea plant growth, because each effect has one cause.

• There can be more than one cause for the effect of pea plant growth.

• It is impossible to determine which factors cause pea plant growth and which factors are the effects of pea plant growth.

• Some things, like pea plant growth, do not have a cause because they just happen

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City 2 is closer to the equator than City 1. Which location has a warmer air temperature and why?

• City 1, because more energy is transferred from the sun directly to the air.

• City 1, because more energy is transferred from the sun directly to the surface, and then from the surface to the air.

• City 2, because more energy is transferred from the sun directly to the air.

• City 2, because more energy is transferred from the sun directly to the surface and then from the surface to the air.

Answer explanation

Remember, locations closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight, therefore receive more energy. Also, energy from the sunlight is transferred to the surface (land or water) then to the air.

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City 2 is farther from the equator than City 1. Which location has a colder air temperature and why?

• City 1, because less energy is transferred from the sun directly to the air.

• City 1, because less energy is transferred from the sun directly to the surface, and then from the surface to the air.

• City 2, because less energy is transferred from the sun directly to the surface, and then from the surface to the air.

• City 2, because less energy is transferred from the sun directly to the air.

Answer explanation

City 1 is further from the equator, so it receives less energy from the sun. The energy from the sun is transferred to the surface and then to the air.

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City 1 and City 2 are the same distance from the equator and they are both near the ocean. Use the information on the map to answer these questions: How does the air temperature of City 1 compare to the air temperature of City 2? Why?

The air at City 1 is...

• Colder than City 2. At City 1, energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 2, energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• Colder than City 2. At City 1, a lot of energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 2, only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• The same as City 2. Even though the ocean water at each location is a different temperature, the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• The same as City 2. They are both near moving ocean water, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

Answer explanation

The ocean current going by City 1 is bringing less energy because it starts near the South Pole. The current going by City 2 has more energy because it starts near the equator. Less Energy = Cooler Temperature.

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City 1 and City 2 are the same distance from the equator and they are both near the ocean. Use the information on the map to answer these questions: How does the air temperature of City 2 compare to the air temperature of City 1? Why?

The air at City 2 is...

• The same as City 1. Even though the ocean water at each location is a different temperature, the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• The same as City 1. They are both near moving ocean water, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• Colder than City 1. At City 2, energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 1, energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• Colder than City 1. At City 2, only a little energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 1, a lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

Answer explanation

The current near City 2 is a cool current and is bringing less energy because it starts near the equator.

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NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

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City 1 and City 2 are the same distance from the equator and they are both near the ocean. Use the information on the map to answer these questions: How does the air temperature of City 2 compare to the air temperature of City 1? Why?

The air at City 2 is...

• Colder than City 1. At City 2, only a little energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 1, a lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• Colder than City 1. At City 2, energy is transferred from the air to the ocean. At City 2, energy is transferred from the ocean to the air.

• The same as City 1. They are both near moving ocean water, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

• The same as City 1. Even though the ocean water at each location is a different temperature, the same amount of energy is transferred to the air at both locations.

Answer explanation

The ocean current near City 2 starts near the North Pole bringing less energy than the current that is near City 1.

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City 2 and City 1 are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of City 2 compare to the air temperature of City 1? Why?

The air at City 2 is...

• The same as City 1. Both locations are the same distance from the equator. The winds push the ocean water, and it turns to follow the coast in both locations, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air.

• Warmer than City 1. Moving air with a lot of energy turns and follows the coast toward City 2; moving air with only a little energy turns and follows the coast toward City 1.

• Warmer than City 1. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 2 and energy is transferred from the air to the ocean at City 1.

• Warmer than City 1. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. A lot of energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 2, and only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 1.

Answer explanation

Currents go with the win until they hit land and change directions. Winds near the North Pole blow cool ocean currents towards city 1 and winds near the equator blow warm ocean currents towards City 2.

Tags

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City 1 and City 2 are the same distance from the equator, and they are both near the ocean. Using the information in the map, how does the air temperature of City 1 compare to the air temperature of City 2? Why?

The air at City 1 is…

• The same as City 2. Both locations are the same distance from the equator. The winds push the ocean water, and it turns to follow the coast past both locations, so the same amount of energy is transferred to the air.

• Colder than City 2. Moving air with only a little energy turns and follows the coast toward City 1. Moving air with a lot of energy turns and follows the coast toward City 2.

• Colder than City 2. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Energy is transferred from the air to the ocean at City 1 and energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 2.

• Colder than City 2. The winds push ocean water that turns and follows the coasts. Only a little energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 1; more energy is transferred from the ocean to the air at City 2.

Answer explanation

Winds blow warm ocean current and hits land and turns towards City 2. Winds blow cool ocean currents and hit land and turns towards City 1.

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