1.
Explain how solar radiation effects circulation in the Earth’s atmosphere
2.
Explain how the Coriolis effect alters the circulation of warm air from the equator/tropics toward the North and South Poles
3.
Distinguish between weather and climate
4.
Discuss the dynamics of adiabatic cooling and adiabatic heating
5.
Explain various conditions associated with cold, warm, and occluded fronts (temperature, atmospheric pressure, winds, precipitation, clouds; and conditions: prior to the passing of the front, contact with the front, and after the passing of the front.)
6.
Distinguish between El Niño and La Niña
7.
Discuss causes of climate change and it’s impacts
8.
Describe how hurricanes form, gain intensity, then lose momentum
9.
Describe how tornadoes form and travel
10.
Discuss how ocean wind circulation patterns affected wind-powered sailing ships
1.
The 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth on its axis has no effect on the differential heating patterns on the Earth’s surface. True or False.
2.
The Coriolis Effect causes any body that moves on a rotating planet to turn to the right
(clockwise) in the southern hemisphere and to the left (counterclockwise) in the northern hemisphere. True or False.
3.
Weather is what conditions are of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time. True or
False.
4.
When air moving across the surface of the earth encounters a mountain range or topographic barrier
 It will be displaced upward causing the air to cool and perhaps yield precipitation;
 Winds in North America blow in a predominantly west to east direction, and the western slopes of mountains generally have higher precipitation;
 When the air crosses the crest of the mountain range it may descend or continue to rise;

 Descending air gets warmer (adiabatic heating) and precipitation is substantially reduced;
 Western, or windward, slopes of mountains in North America have increased precipitation while the eastern, or leeward, slopes have significantly reduced precipitation. a.
None of the above are correct; b.
Some of the above are correct; c.
All of the above are correct.
5.
Various conditions associated with a cold front advance are shown in this table
Weather
Phenomenon
Prior to the Passing of the Front
Contact with the
Front
After the
Passing of the
Front
Temperature Warm
Atmospheric
Pressure
Winds
Decreasing steadily
South to southeast
Cooling suddenly
Leveling off then increasing
Cold and getting colder
Increasing steadily
Variable and gusty West to northwest
Precipitation
Clouds
Showers
Cirrostratus changing later to cumulus and cumulonimbus
Heavy rain or snow, hail sometimes
Cumulus and cumulonimbus
Showers then clearing
Cumulus a.
All of the various conditions associated with a cold front advance shown in this table are TRUE b.
All of the various conditions associated with a cold front advance shown in this table are FALSE.
6.
La Nina is described as cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, near the equator off the west coast of South America. El Nino described as warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the same area of the
Pacific Ocean. True or False.
7.
Most climate scientists agree the main cause of the current global warming trend is human expansion of the "greenhouse effect" 1 -- warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space.
Certain gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping. Long-lived gases, remaining semi-permanently in the atmosphere, which do not respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are described as "forcing" climate change whereas gases, such as water, which respond physically or chemically to changes in temperature are seen as
"feedbacks."
Gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect include:
• Water vapor. The most abundant greenhouse gas, but importantly, it acts as a feedback to the climate. Water vapor increases as the Earth's atmosphere warms, but so does the possibility of clouds and precipitation, making these

•
•
• some of the most important feedback mechanisms to the greenhouse effect.
Carbon dioxide (CO
2
). A minor but very important component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide is released through natural processes such as respiration and volcano eruptions and through human activities such as deforestation, land use changes, and burning fossil fuels. Humans have increased atmospheric CO
2
concentration by a third since the Industrial Revolution began.
This is the most important long-lived "forcing" of climate change.
Methane. A hydrocarbon gas produced both through natural sources and human activities, including the decomposition of wastes in landfills, agriculture, and especially rice cultivation, as well as ruminant digestion and manure management associated with domestic livestock. On a molecule-for-molecule basis, methane is a far more active greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but also one which is much less abundant in the atmosphere.
Nitrous oxide. A powerful greenhouse gas produced by soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion,
• nitric acid production, and biomass burning.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Synthetic compounds of entirely of industrial origin used in a number of applications, but now largely regulated in production and release to the atmosphere by international agreement for their ability to contribute to destruction of the ozone layer. They are also greenhouse gases.
On Earth, human activities are changing the natural greenhouse. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil has increased the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO
2
). This happens because the coal or oil burning process combines carbon with oxygen in the air to make CO
2
. To a lesser extent, the clearing of land for agriculture, industry, and other human activities have increased concentrations of greenhouse gases.
All of the below are TRUE; or
All of the below are FALSE.
•
•
On average, Earth will become warmer. Some regions may welcome warmer temperatures, but others may not.
Warmer conditions will probably lead to more evaporation and precipitation overall, but individual regions will vary, some becoming wetter and others dryer.
A stronger greenhouse effect will warm the oceans and partially melt glaciers •
• and other ice, increasing sea level. Ocean water also will expand if it warms, contributing further to sea level rise.
Meanwhile, some crops and other plants may respond favorably to increased atmospheric CO
2
, growing more vigorously and using water more efficiently. At the same time, higher temperatures and shifting climate patterns may change the areas where crops grow best and affect the makeup of natural plant communities.
8.
Hurricanes do NOT form on the equator because a.
The water is too warm; b.
The water is too cold;

c.
Hurricanes require the Coriolis force to initiate rotation, and the Coriolis force is zero on the equator; d.
There is no air movement at the equator.
9.
Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are found most frequently in the United States...
 A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground.
 Tornadoes cause an average of 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year.
 The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 250 mph.
 Tornadoes can be one mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles.
 Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel. The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
 The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph.
 Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over warm water. They can move onshore and cause damage to coastal areas.
TRUE or FALSE for all of the above statements.
10.
Compare Captain Cook’s third voyage route (in BLUE), below, with the map of Pacific
Ocean Prevailing Winds. Captain Cook’s third voyage route utilized the far north Pacific
Ocean’s prevailing winds. TRUE or FALSE.
Captain Cook’s Third Voyage Route (in BLUE)

Pacific Ocean Gyres (Prevailing Ocean Currents)
Wind Driven Surface Currents: Gyres Background
An interesting 21 st Century compilation of 18th Century Shipping Routes