Weather & Climate Study Guide
Name ______________________________
6th Grade PSI Science
1. What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is the current conditions of a location.
Climate is the average weather for a location.
2. What is radiation?
Radiation is the transfer of electromagnetic energy to Earth's surface.
3. How does sunlight affect Earth’s climate?
Electromagnetic waves from the sun travel through Earth's atmosphere.
This energy is absorbed by the atmosphere but the rest strikes Earth,
warming it. This helps to drive our weather cycle.
4. How do the oceans affect Earth’s climate?
The oceans absorb, maintain, and transport energy. This helps to regulate
our weather. Ocean currents circulate energy and moisture between
different areas of the world.
5. How do the oceans moderate coastal climates?
The ocean has a steady temperature despite the seasons. Oceans absorb
heat in the summer from the sun and release it very slowly during the
winter. This helps to moderate temperature. People who live in costal
regions experience warmer winters and cooler summers than inland
regions.
6. In what layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?
The troposphere is the layer closest to Earth's surface. This is the layer in
which weather occurs.
7. What effect do greenhouse gases have on Earth’s climate?
Greenhouse gases in the troposphere, such as CO2, retain heat and warm
the planet.
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6th Grade PSI
Weather & Climate and Natural Disasters
8. What causes the wind?
Convection currents that affect ocean water also affect air currents in the
atmosphere. We feel this as the wind. Convection currents are a result of
less dense hot air rising and more dense cold air sinks.
9. What are prevailing winds?
Prevailing winds are winds that travel from one direction.
10. How does moisture level in prevailing winds differ?
Moisture content in prevailing winds is affected by location. Winds traveling
over land are dry while winds traveling over water are moist.
11. How does ice affect Earth’s climate?
The presence of ice and snow helps to regulate Earth's climate. Without
them, Earth would absorb additional radiation and become much warmer.
Because ice and snow are white in color, they do not absorb
electromagnetic radiation from the sun. Instead, they reflect this
energy back into space.
12. How do mountains affect local weather?
As warm, moist air encounters the mountain, it is forced to rise, where it
cools. As it cools, it condenses and releases moisture.
13. How do hills and valleys create wind patterns?
Hills and valleys create wind patterns due to differential heating.
During the day, hilltops heat up faster than valleys. This creates
low pressure that pulls air (wind) up from the valley.
At night, hilltops cool off faster than valleys. This creates high
pressure that sends air (wind) down into the valley.
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6th Grade PSI
Weather & Climate and Natural Disasters
14. What is an example of living things affecting climate?
Humans increased use of greenhouse gases has led to global
warming.
15. Why do different areas of the planet receive different amounts of sunlight?
Because of Earth's tilt, different areas of the planet receive different
amounts of sunlight.
16. Describe polar, temperate and tropical latitudes.
Polar: Cold all year
Temperate: Warm in summer, cold in winter
Tropical: Warm all year
17. How does altitude affect temperature?
As altitude increases, pressure decreases. This means that as
altitude increases, temperature decreases.
18. Why do meteorologists use probability forecasting?
Because they never know exactly what will happen, they use
probability forecasting.
19. Compare high pressure and low pressure. What symbols are used to show each on a
weather map?
High Pressure System: Cool, dry air: Fair weather and
light winds
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6th Grade PSI
Weather & Climate and Natural Disasters
Low Pressure System: Warm moist air: Storms and strong
winds
20. What is a front?
A front is a boundary between cold and warm air.
21. What are the differences between cold, warm and stationary fronts? What symbols are
used to show each on a weather map?
Front
What is it?
Conditions
Symbol on map
Storms replaced
by lower
temperatures
and high
pressure.
Precipitation
replaced by
increased
temperatures
and low
pressure.
Cold
Cold air
replaces
warm air.
Warm
Warm air
replaces
cold air.
Stationary
Two air
Prolonged
masses do precipitation and
not move. storms.
22. What is a natural disaster?
A natural disaster is a catastrophic event that occurs as a
result of natural processes.
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6th Grade PSI
Weather & Climate and Natural Disasters
23. What natural disasters are predictable?
Volcanoes and Severe Weather
24. What natural disasters are unpredictable?
Earthquakes and Tornados
25. What is unpredictable for all natural disasters?
Even for a predictable natural disaster, the exact timing and magnitude is
often unpredictable. Just like with weather, probability forecasting is used in
predictions.
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6th Grade PSI
Weather & Climate and Natural Disasters