Weather & Climate Unit Review

Where do the cold, dry air masses that move towards us usually develop (come from)?

Canada

True or False?

Heat is transferred from warmer objects to cooler objects.

What is the most abundant gas in the dry air in our atmosphere?

Nitrogen

What is the windless area near the equator that has rainy, cloudy weather almost every afternoon?

Doldrums

Air pressure and density decrease as ___________ increases, making it harder to breathe high up in the mountains.

Altitude

Which area on the Earth gets the most direct sunlight (solar radiation) all year long?

Near the equator

What is the protective envelope of gases that surround Earth?

Atmosphere

What is the main reason that we have four different seasons where we live?

Because the Earth is tilted on its axis so, different areas on Earth are tilted towards the sun at different times of the year.

In which layer of the atmosphere does our weather take place?

Troposphere

Where do the warm, moist air masses that move toward us develop (come from)?

Gulf of Mexico

What provides Earth’s energy?

The Sun

What are the three things that can happen to the energy that comes from the sun?

Absorbed by the atmosphereAbsorbed by the land and water

Reflected by into space

What is the term that refers to the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many years?

Climate

What are the three types of heat transfer that work together to warm the troposphere?

ConductionConvectionRadiation

What is the force pushing down on an area or surface?

Air pressure

What is the natural process where gases hold heat in the air under a “blanket” in the atmosphere, helping to keep Earth’s temperature constant and comfortable for living things?

Greenhouse Effect

What is the name of the currents created when warm air rises and cooler air moves down—this cycle repeats over and over to balance the changing temperatures?

Convection currents

Where is the ozone layer found?

In the Stratosphere

Which layer of the atmosphere protects Earth from most meteoroids?

Mesosphere

Which clouds are fluffy, rounded cotton-like clouds that are seen on sunny days?

Cumulus

What is a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity & air pressure at any height called?

Air mass

What always follow lightning?

Thunder

Which storm forms from similar clouds that bring thunderstorms, occur in the spring & summer, and are described as whirling, funnel-shaped clouds that reach from the storm cloud to the ground?

Tornado

Which air mass forms over oceans and may be tropical or polar?

Maritime

Which term refers to any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface?

Precipitation

What is the name for the area in the mid U.S. where as many as 800 tornadoes occur each year due to the meeting of warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico & cold, dry air from Canada?

Tornado Alley

How does hail form?

Round pellets bounce around inside thunderstorm clouds

What is the name of the type of scientist who study the causes of weather and try to make predictions using maps, charts, and computers?

Meteorologists

Because the Earth’s axis is tilted, the seasons change as different hemispheres receive more or less direct sunlight. When it is winter in the southern hemisphere, what season is it in the northern hemisphere?

Summer

Which clouds are fluffy, rounded cotton-like clouds that grow large, turn dark, and bring thunderstorms?

Cumulonimbus

Which type of front causes sudden thunderstorms as dense air sinks under slow-moving warm fronts?

Cold fronts