Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climate

The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt shows the flow pattern of deep-sea density currents. Which statement best describes an effect caused by these currents?

• They prevent tsunamis from occurring.

• They control the occurrence of low and high tides.

• They influence climate by distributing energy from the Sun.

• They cause hurricanes to move in a counterclockwise direction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What geographic obstacle causes water to condense in an air mass as the air mass moves?

• forests

• oceans

• prairies

• mountains

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

Which of these events have the most influence on regional climate?

• frequent tornadoes

• ocean trade winds

• winter snowstorms

• temperature inversions

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What is the main energy source for deep ocean currents that move large volumes of water around the planet?

• heat from Earth’s core

• radiation from the Sun

• 
  tidal effects of the Moon

• motion of tectonic plates

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

When nearly vertical rays of solar energy strike a region of Earth, that area has warm temperatures. What region of Earth gets nearly vertical rays of solar energy year round?

• Equator

• Australia

• United States

• North and South Poles

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A change in the pattern of warm ocean currents can cause a climate change by

• releasing thermal energy in irregular spurts.

• absorbing thermal energy from the Sun’s rays.

• moving thermal energy from one place to another.

• increasing the ocean’s capacity for absorbing thermal energy.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

How does the latitude of a region affect its climate?

• 
  by increasing the length of days throughout the year

• by increasing the amount of energy the land can absorb

• by determining the angle of sunlight throughout the year

• by determining the rate that tectonic plates can move

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Earth is shown in simplified form with the black line representing the Equator and the arrow representing sunlight. Which diagram shows how the Sun's rays hit the Earth to create the tropical region with its warm, year-round climate?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The image shows various climate regions on Earth. Each region has its corresponding global wind belts. Point X is marked in one of the climate regions. How do the trade winds move in this region?

• west to east

• east to west

• northeast to west

• northeast to east

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which pattern of air movement shows a convection current?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6