ISCI 2001 – Pre – Lesson Questions – Weather and Climate
1. Distinguish between weather and climate.
2. State the general characteristics of each climate zone below:
a. tropical –
b. temperate –
c. polar –
3. We live in a ______________ climate zone.
4. Distinguish between solar and terrestrial radiation.
5. The Earth’s temperature varies with ______________.
6. The surface of the Earth is warmer where ___________ intensity is highest.
7. Explain why seasons on the Earth varies with latitude. Give examples.
8. Define atmospheric pressure. _______________________________________________
9. The weight of the air at sea level is _________________ Newtons. Atmospheric pressure is
__________ N/m2.
10. The SI unit of pressure is the ____________. The atmospheric pressure at sea level is ____________
kilopascals or _______ atmosphere.
11. Draw the atmospheres of the Earth on page 585. Label each atmosphere and briefly state the
characteristics of each atmosphere.
12. How is ozone formed? ____________________________________________________________ Why
is the ozone important? ___________________________________________________________
13. List examples of substances that may destroy the ozone. ______________________________
14. What do isobars represent? ____________________________________________________
15. Distinguish between local and prevailing winds.
16. What is the Coriolis Effect?
17. Define humidity. ______________________________________________________________
18. Define relative humidity. ________________________________________________________
19. When air contains as much water as it can hold the air is said to be _______________. The
temperature at which saturation occurs is the __________ point.
20. What is dew, frost and fog? _____________________________________________________
21. How do clouds form?
22. Howard classified clouds as _______________, ________________ and ______________ (based on
their shape).
23. ___________ clouds are formed above 6000 m. Examples are ______________________________
24. ____________clouds are formed between 2000 and 6000 m. Examples are ___________________
25. __________ clouds are formed below 2000 m. Examples are ____________________________
26. Vertically developed clouds are ______________________________________________
27. All high clouds have the prefix _________. All middle clouds have the prefix __________.
28. State the characteristics of high clouds.
29. State the characteristics of middle clouds.
30. State the characteristics of low clouds.
31. State the characteristics of vertical clouds.
32. _____________ clouds indicate fair weather. ______________ indicate a storm may be near.
______________ clouds are called thunderheads and may produce ____________________.
33. Distinguish between a cold and warm weather front.
34. When a cold front moves in, the temperature ____________ and there is a drop in ________
pressure. It also causes the warm air to _______________, condense and form _______________
clouds. They may eventually form ___________________________________.
35. Thunderstorms begin with _____________ clouds which may grow into ______________ clouds.
36. Describe how tornados are formed.
37. An F0 tornado has winds that range from ___________ to __________. The most severe tornados
F5 have winds that range from __________ to ________.
38. Discuss how hurricanes are formed.
39. What is the Greenhouse Effect? Why is it important? Describe how it works.