Station 1: Ocean Currents
Use the ocean currents map copied from page 4 of the ESRT and the passage to answer the questions that follow
.
The Map:
Questions:
1. Name the cool current off the West coast of North America
2. Name the warm current off the East coast of South America
3. What type of current is the Australian Current?
4. What type of current is the Peru Current?
5. Name a current that will bring cool water to the Equator
6. Where do warm currents originate and which direction do they normally flow?
7. Where do cool currents originate and which direction do they normally flow?
8. Explain how the East Australian Current will affect the climate of the East Coast of Australia
9. Explain how the West Australian Current will affect the climate of the West Coast of Australia
Station 2: Elevation
- Read the passage below
- Use the data table to complete the station. The snow line is the lowest elevation at which snow remains on
the ground all year. The data table shows the elevation of the snow line at different latitudes in the
Northern Hemisphere
1. Graph the data points
2. Mt. Mitchell, in North Carolina, is located at 36oN and has a peak elevation of 2037 meters. Plot the
latitude and elevation of Mt. Mitchell on your graph. Use a plus sign to mark this point.
3. Use your graph to determine, to the nearest whole degree, the lowest latitude at which a peak with the
same elevation as Mt. Mitchell would have permanent snow.
4. State the relationship between latitude and the elevation of the snow line.
5. Explain how you could find cities with low latitudes that still have snow year round
Station 3: Imaginary Continent
Use the information provided to place features in their
appropriate location on the imaginary continent in your
packet.
1. Lightly draw in the planetary winds.
2. Write the letter that corresponds to each city in a
location that would have a climate that meets the
descriptions below.
City A: Located close to the equator, but has snow on
the ground year round
City B: Has a warm and very dry climate
City C: Has a moderate climate; it never gets too hot in
the summer or too cold in the winter. The prevailing
winds are from the NE.
City D and E are separated by a mountain range. City
E is cooler and has a lot precipitation, while city D is
warmer and very dry.
Climate Types and Factors That Cause Them Climate Climactic Producing Factors
Warm 1. Low latitudes
2. Warm currents
3. Much vegetation
4. Leeward side of mountains
5. 0o and 30
o N & S
Cool 1. High latitudes
2. Cool currents
3. Windward side of mountains
4. Higher elevations
5. 60o and 90
o N & S
Arid (Dry) 1. Far from water (continental)
2. Leeward side of mountains
2. 30o and 90
o N & S
Humid (Moist) 1. Close to water (marine)
2. Windward side of mountains
3. 0o and 60
o N & S
Large Temperature Range 1. High latitudes
2. Far from water (continental)
3. Hot summers, cold winters
Small Temperature Range 1. Low latitudes
2. Close to water (marine)
3. Warm summers and winters
Marine (Coastal) 1. Close to water
2. Cool summers, warm winters
Continental (Inland) 1. Far from water
2. Hot summers, cold winters
High Precipitation 1. Close to water
2. Windward side of mountains
3. High elevations
4. Stormy areas
5. Vegetative areas
6. 0o and 60
o N & S
The diagram below shows a mountain range running from East to West through California. The arrows show
the prevailing winds in this part of the country. The bar graph beneath the diagram shows the amount of yearly
precipitation received in each location.
Questions:
1. What is the range of precipitation for the four locations in the Coastal Mountain Ranges?
2. Explain why Death Valley receives the least amount of precipitation.
3. Which location in this diagram has the warmest average annual temperature?
4. Why is the East or West side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range receiving more precipitation?
5. Explain the difference between the characteristics of the windward and leeward side of a mountain.
Diagram I shows the planetary wind belts of Earth. Diagram II is a graph of the
average yearly precipitation for locations 90oN latitude to 90
oS latitude.
Questions:
1. Which latitudes have the most precipitation?
2. Which latitudes have the least precipitation?
3. Which latitudes have converging air?
4. Explain the relationship between precipitation and latitude.
5. Explain the relationship between converging air and precipitation.
Station 7 – Dry Climates
Use the map below that shows some of the world’s largest deserts to answer the
questions that follow.
Questions:
1. Give the approximate latitude of the:
a. Sahara b. Gobi c. Kalahari d. Simpson
2. State the approximate latitude for most deserts and state whether it is a
convergent or divergent wind zone.
3. Complete the chart of Climates and Planetary Wind Belts
Station 8 – Brain Pop
Go to www.brainpop.com
Log in Username: bronx Password: bronx
Click on Science
Click on Weather
Click on Climate Types
Click on Zoom Movie
Watch movie
Once you have finished the movie, click on Take the Quiz (Graded Quiz)
Record your answers in your packet
Click on View Your Results
Review your answers
If you have time left, go back to Weather and investigate another topic