Weather & Climate

Local weather varies across Florida. The temperature at the beach may be up to 5 degrees cooler than the temperatures inland 20 miles away. What is the reason for this difference in temperature?

• The land distributes the thermal energy equally

• The ocean reflects energy into the atmosphere.

• The land and water create convection currents.

• The land and water heat unequally.

The diagram below represents a cross section of Florida’s coastline. Compared to the change in temperature of the water surface, what will the change in temperature of the land surface be?

• Faster, because the land requires more heat to change the temperature.

• Slower, because the land requires less heat to change the temperature.

• Faster, because the land requires less heat to change the temperature.

• Slower, because the land requires more heat to change the temperature.

While visiting the beach during summer vacation, a sea breeze keeps you cool and comfortable during the hottest part of the day. Which best explains why this happens?

• warm air rises over the land allows cooler air from the ocean to blow inland

• there are similarities in temperature between the land and the water

• cool air rising over land allows warm air from the ocean to blow inland

• a thunderstorm is approaching

Grace is studying the difference between weather and climate. Which statement best describes weather?

• Panama City has short mild winters and long, hot and humid summers

• The temperature was 31°C (88°F) in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday.

• Jacksonville, Florida gets 50 inches of rain, on average, per year

• The yearly rainfall average for Tallahassee, Florida is 155 centimeters

Students compared weather and climate.

Mary wrote: Climate is the average weather patterns over a long period of time and weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions, such as precipitation and temperature.

Tom wrote: Weather is the average weather patterns over a long period of time and climate refers to the short term atmospheric conditions, such as precipitation and temperature.

Bill wrote: Weather lists the highest temperatures in a region and climate list the lowest temperatures.

Sara wrote: Weather and climate are the same. There are no differences between them.

Whose comparison is correct?

• Mary

• Tom

• Bill

• Sara

The climate of an area can be different from its weather. Which of the following statements describes the climate of an area?

• There should be heavy rains tomorrow morning

• The average temperature from 1930–1996 was 23°C (74°F)

• The rains next week are expected to cause some flooding.

• The high temperature on September 4, 2009, was 32°C (89°F)

Which statement best describes the climate of the two cities

• Both locations are influenced by a warm current making them warm.

• Hopedale is influenced by a cold ocean current making it colder and Stornoway is influenced by a warm ocean current making it warmer.

• They have the same climate because they have the same latitude.

• Stornoway is influenced by a cold ocean current making it colder and Hopedale is influenced by a warm ocean current making it warmer.

Which statement best describes how energy transfer within Earth’s atmosphere can affect a weather condition?

• During convection, warm air rises and cool air falls which affects the amount of precipitation

• During radiation, electromagnetic waves transfer heat and light energy which affects the air temperature.

• During radiation, objects directly transfer heat to each other which affects the air temperature

• During convection, electromagnetic waves transfer heat and light energy which affects the amount of precipitation.

What type of weather will Florida expect when the front comes through?

• light rain or drizzle

• many days of rain, snow, or fog

• heavy precipitation or thunderstorms

• sunny, clear, and windy

Which best explains why the Gulf Stream tends to bring warmer air to the east coast of Florida?

• The Gulf Stream brings water from the equator

• The Gulf Stream is the result of the Earth’s Rotation

• The Gulf Stream changes direction each year

• . The Gulf Stream is a deep ocean current