Water Cycle and Weather

The diagram shows how the interaction between the sun and the ocean can cause clouds to form near the beach. Which of the following best describes why clouds form near the beach?

• Energy from the sun causes precipitation over the ocean

• Light form the sun decreases the amount of water vapor in the air over the ocean

• Light from the sun reflects off the surface of the ocean

• Energy form the sun causes water to evaporate from the ocean

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of the following events in the water cycle is an example of solar energy being absorbed?

• Water vapor condensing to form clouds

• Clouds releasing precipitation

• Water evaporating form the surface of an ocean

• Rain freezing as it falls toward the ground

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which of these best describes climate rather than weather?

• Annual high temperatures in the summer have increased over many decades (10 years)

• The temperature is decreasing in a slow-moving cold front

• Wind speed is changing as a storm moves through an area

• The rainfall during one year was greater than the rainfall during the following year

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

The weather map shows weather conditions in the United States on a specific day. Which city will probably have a pattern of cloudy or rainy weather for several days?

• Boston

• Tulsa

• San Diego

• Seattle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is the difference between weather and climate?

• Weather is when it is rainy or dry. Climate tells whether it is hot or cold.

• Climate describes when it rainy or dry. Weather describes only if it is hot or cold.

• Climate is the average atmospheric condition over a long period of time, while weather is the atmospheric condition on a given day.

• Weather is the average atmospheric condition over a long period of time, while climate is the atmospheric condition on a given day.

A diagram of the stages in the water cycle is shown. Which of these observations would most likely be seen at Stage N?

• Dark clouds forming

• Fog forming along on a highway

• The water level of a lake decreasing

• Water flowing downhill

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Which step in the water cycle is best represented by the tiny drops of water forming at the top of the bottle?

• Condensation

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Collection

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What does the lamp represent in this model?

• The ocean

• A cloud

• Preciptiation

• the sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

This plastic rain gauge is shown before and after a rainstorm. About how much rain in centimeters fell in the rain gauge during the storm?

• 5 cm

• 2 cm

• 3 cm

• 8 cm

Some scientists measured and recorded local rainfall amounts and water levels at several local lakes over the summer. They compared their measurements with data from the past 30 years. The scientist concluded that the area was drier this summer than in previous years. They plan to continue recording these measurements each summer for the next decade. What characteristic of this area are the scientists studying?

• Climate, because they are making more than one type of measurement.

• Weather, because they are tracking changes only to their local environment

• Climate, because they are comparing rainfall amounts over a long period of time 

• Weather, because they expect rainfall amounts and water levels to continue to decrease