Can You Pass the Climate Test?
1. What season is it in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun’s direct rays are on the Tropic of Capricorn? winter
2. Cold air masses come from which direction if I am in the Southern Hemisphere? From the south
3. What season is it in the Southern Hemisphere on September 21? spring
4. Why is it warmer in Britain than other places at the same latitude? Warm current (Gulf Stream)
5. Is there high or low pressure along the Equator? low
6. Are the horse latitudes at an area of high or low pressure? high
7. How is high pressure different from low pressure? High – cold & dry. Low – warm & humid
8. Where are the Doldrums? Along the Equator
9. If it is 10 degrees at the top of a 5,000 foot tall mountain, what temperature is it at the bottom? 27.5
10. If it is 68 degrees at the bottom of a 22,000 foot tall mountain, what temperature is it at the top? -9
11. If I am in New Jersey and you are in Nebraska – which one of us will be hotter in the summer? you
12. If I am in New Jersey and you are in Nebraska – which one of us will be hotter in the winter? me
13. What direction do cyclones spin in the Southern Hemisphere? clockwise
14. What is the most important factor that affects climate? latitude
15. If you are farther away from the Equator than me - will it be drier or wetter where you are? drier
16. In which climate zone (low, mid, or high) do most of the world’s people live? mid
17. If we are on the same latitude line and I am at 4,000 feet and you are at 6,000 feet – how much colder will you be
than me? 7
18. Around which latitude line will you find thunder storms? 60
19. What is the orographic effect? Clouds too heavy to make it over the mountain so precipitate on the windward side
and leeward side is dry (desert)
20. How do cold current affect the coast of California? Cooler and drier than at same latitude
21. If I am on the windward side of a mountain what is it most likely going to be like? Lush vegetation and humid
22. What is the difference between climate and weather? Weather – daily. Climate – average 30 years
23. In which direction do cyclones spin in the Northern Hemisphere? counter - clockwise
24. On which days do the solstices begin? June 21-22 and December 21-22
25. Where are the direct rays of the sun during the Equinox? Equator
26. Explain how there is a desert located at 22S, 71W. Cold current, leeward side of mountains
27. The trade winds blow from ___east__________ to ________west towards the Equator_______
28. When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, what area is receiving 24 hours of daylight? North Pole
29. If it is 30◦ at the top of a 12,000 foot tall mountain, what is the temperature at the bottom? 72
30. If it is 68◦ at the bottom of a 17,000 foot tall mountain, what is the temperature at the top? 8.5
31. Is the coast of Chile on a warm or cold current? cold
32. What is the formula for finding temperature differences for the top and bottom of a mountain? For every 1,000
feet up a mountain, temperature drops 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
33. Is Houston in the low, mid, or high latitudes? mid
34. Why is there often a desert on the leeward side of the mountain? (see #19)
Climates of the World –
Name the Climate:
35. Production of agriculture has replaced the natural prairie grass. Humid Continental
36. Vertical climate above 14,000 feet Tierra Helada
37. Climate that has dry, hot, sunny summers and mild rainy winters. Mediterranean
38. This climate borders deserts. Steppe
39. This climate has a distinct wet and dry season. Savanna
40. In this climate it rains almost daily and has a small temperature range. Tropical Rainforest
41. This climate is affected by the orographic effect. Highlands / Mountains
42. Vertical climate where coffee, cotton, and corn are grown. Tierra Templada
43. This climate has four distinct seasons and the temperatures can range from below freezing to 75-85 degrees.
Humid Continental
44. This climate has 10 – 20 inches of precipitation in a year. Steppe
45. Houston is an example of this climate. Humid Subtropical
46. Taiga is found in this climate. Subarctic
47. Vertical climate where grains, apples and potatoes are grown. Tierra Fria
48. This climate is below freezing all year and is a polar desert. IceCap
49. This climate has less than 10 inches of rain in a year. Desert
50. Temperate rainforests are found in this climate. Marine
51. Vertical climate where bananas, sugar cane, and cacao are grown. Tierra Caliente
52. Due to permafrost this climate has short bushes, very short grasses, moss, and lichen. Tundra
53. This climate is subject to hurricanes and typhoons and has nearly year round precipitation. Humid Subtropical
54. This climate is influenced by the ocean. Marine
Vocabulary:
55. underbrush, woody bushes, and shrubs, also called Mediterranean scrub chapparal
56. The spread of desert like conditions to non-desert areas. This is a serious problem in the steppe. desertification
57. grazing area of vertical climate Paramo
58. desert sand dunes erg
59. only a small top layer of ground thaws permafrost