Key Concepts and Learning Standards for Weather
Key Idea 2:
Many of the phenomena that we observe on Earth involve interactions among
components of air, water, and land.
Major Understandings:
2.1a Nearly all the atmosphere is confined to a thin shell surrounding Earth. The
atmosphere is a mixture of gases, including nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) with
small amounts of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases. The
atmosphere is stratified into layers, each having distinct properties. Nearly all
weather occurs in the lowest layer of the atmosphere called the troposphere.
2.1b As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.
2.1d The majority of the lithosphere is covered by a relatively thin layer of water
called the hydrosphere.
2.1j Water circulates through the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere in what
is known as the water cycle.
2.2i Weather describes the conditions of the atmosphere at a given location for a
short period of time.
2.2j Climate is the characteristic weather that prevails from season to season and
year to year.
2.2k The uneven heating of Earth's surface is the cause of weather.
2.2l Air masses form when air remains nearly stationary over a large section of
Earth's surface and takes on the conditions of temperature and humidity from that
location. Weather conditions at a location are determined primarily by temperature,
humidity, and pressure of air masses over that location.
2.2m Most local weather condition changes are caused by movement of air masses.
2.2n The movement of air masses is determined by prevailing winds and upper air
currents.
2.2o Fronts are boundaries between air masses. Precipitation is likely to occur at
these boundaries.
2.2p High-pressure systems generally bring fair weather. Low-pressure systems
usually bring cloudy, unstable conditions. The general movement of highs and lows
is from west to east across the United States.
2.2q Hazardous weather conditions include thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes,
ice storms, and blizzards. Humans can prepare for and respond to these conditions if
given sufficient warning.
2.2r Substances enter the atmosphere naturally and from human activity. Some of
these substances include dust from volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gases such
as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor. These substances can affect weather,
climate, and living things.
Weather Review
Name___________________________
Class___________________
Date____________________________
Part 1: Multiple Choice
1. Which title best describes the processes shown in the diagram below?
(a) The Rock Cycle
(b) The Water Cycle
(c) Plate Tectonics
(d) Chemical Changes
2. In order for a hurricane to form, you need the following conditions:
(a) Cool ocean temperatures and high pressure
(b) Warm ocean temperatures (80°F) and low pressure
(c) Sinking air and heavy wind
(d) Large thunder clouds
3. Which weather instrument measures air pressure?
(a) Thermometer
(b) Hygrometer
(c) Barometer
(d) Anemometer
4. The relative humidity of Endicott on August 9, 2010 was 90%. The air
on this day most likely felt:
(a) Cool and dry
(b) windy and cool
(c) Hot and sticky
(d) comfortable
5. The layer of the atmosphere we live in is called:
(a) Troposphere
(b) Stratosphere
(c) Mesosphere
(d) Thermosphere
6. Most of the air we breathe is made of what gas?
(a) Oxygen
(b) hydrogen
(c) Helium
(d) nitrogen
7. The scientific term for a person who studies the weather is called a(n):
(a) astronomer
(b) biologist
(c) Meteorologist
(d) weather man
8. The kinetic energy of atoms and molecules is defined as:
(a) heat
(b) conduction
(c) Radiation
(d) convection
9. Weather is:
(a) The changes that occur in cloud formations from day to day
(b) The amount of rain or snow that falls in a day
(c) Earthquakes, tornadoes, and other disasters
(d) The condition of the Earth’s atmosphere at a given time and
place
10. Energy transfers from areas of:
(a) High energy to low energy
(b) Low energy to high energy
(c) Low pressure to high pressure
(d) Energy stays the same all the time
11. The major source of energy that drives all weather patterns on Earth is
the:
(a) Equator
(b) Sun
(c)Niagara Power Plant
(d) San Andreas Fault
12. A student wanted to heat the same amounts of soil and water to 22°C.
Both the soil and water were at 19°C. Which statement below is true?
(a) It takes
(b) It takes
(c) It takes
(d) None of
the same amount of energy to heat the water and soil.
more energy to heat the soil than the water.
more energy to heat the water than the soil.
these are true.
13. When air cools and water vapor condenses onto tiny pieces of dust, or
condensation nuclei, a________________ is formed.
(a) Hurricane
(b) tornado
(c) Cloud
(d) thunderstorm
14. A sudden change in the weather at a certain location is most likely caused
by:
(a) The arrival of an air mass
(b) A severe earthquake
(c) A high ocean tide
(d) An eclipse of the Moon
15. The warmth you feel from the sun is an example of:
(a) convection
(b) radiation
(c) conduction
(d) precipitation
16. The diagram below shows a material being cycled between the living and
nonliving environments.
Which material is being cycled?
(a) Carbon dioxide
(c) Nitrogen
(b) oxygen
(d) water
17. The diagram below shows a weather instrument.
Which weather condition is measured by this instrument?
(a) Air humidity
(c) Wind direction
(b) air pressure
(d) wind speed
18. The map below shows the total rainfall, in inches, for parts of New York
State, Vermont, and New Hampshire over one year. The numbered dark lines
connect locations with the same amount of total rainfall. State boundaries are
indicated
by____._____._____
What was the probable amount of rainfall, in inches, for Waterbury, Vermont,
for that year?
(a) 35
(c) 37
(b) 36
(d) 43
19. A high pressure system tends to bring:
(a) bright sunny days
(b) cold, snowy days
(c) warm and rainy days
(d) monsoons
20. Warm, wet winds from the Gulf of Mexico collide with cool and dry
Canadian air. This clash of air can produce rapidly rotating columns of air
known as a:
(a) hurricane
(b) tsunami
(c) Cyclone
(d) tornado
Part II.
Base your answers to questions 21 and 22 on the weather map below and on
your knowledge of science. The map shows a low-pressure system centered
over the central portion of the United States in mid-July.
What weather condition is most likely occurring at the fronts shown on this
weather map?
______________________________________________________________________________
In which compass direction will this low-pressure center most likely move?
______________________________________________________________________________
23. Choose one of the following severe weather events, and write down 2 safety
tips for that weather event.
LIGHTNING
HURRICANE
TORNADO
BLIZZARD
FLOOD
Weather Event____________________________
Safety Tips:
a)____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
b)____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
24. Using the information from the data table construct a line graph on the
grid below.
Inches of Rainfall in Endicott, NY
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
1.6
4.3
3.5
1.5
Inches of Rainfall Recorded in Endicott, NY
March
April
May
June
Months