Name ______________________________
Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet
To complete this worksheet, see the instructions in the textbook (Chapter 6 Investigation).
Table 1. Planetary Features
This globe below shows the features on a hypothetical planet.
 Examine the planet and identify features that might have a major impact on the climate,
weather, and other interactions of the atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere system. Mark the
location of the key features and connect them with leader lines to a brief description of
the feature’s possible impact (write this in the space around the globe).
Continent
B
Continent
A
Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet; page 2
Using the figure in table 1 and your textbook, circle the best answer for each question below.
Question
The Polar Continent near the North Pole
would most likely
The ocean that completely surrounds
Polar Continent in the Northern
Hemisphere is likely to contain
The continuous ocean from 0° to 60°N is
likely to have
The continuous ocean south of the
equator is likely to have
Where is the most likely location of a
warm pool?
What direction of winds is most likely
between the equator and 30°N?
What direction of winds is most likely
between the equator and 30°S?
What direction of winds is most likely
between 30°N and 60°N?
What direction of winds is most likely
between 60°N and the North Pole?
Which of the following places are the
waters likely to be more saline than
average?
Where is the most likely site for a rain
shadow associated with the mountains on
the west coast of the Eastern Continent?
Answers
a) be a warm, sunny place
b) be too cold to affect ocean circulation
c) generally experience high pressure
a) very cold water
b) some icebergs
c) water that is more saline in some areas than others
d) all of these
a) a cold surface current near Eastern Continent
b) a warm surface current near Eastern Continent
c) warmer water near 60°N than near the equator
a) a cold surface current near Western Continent
b) a warm surface current near Western Continent
c) no ocean currents
a) at 45°N in the Northern Hemisphere
b) at 45°S in the Southern Hemisphere
c) along the equator of the Western Continent
d) near the center of the Eastern Continent
a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
a) in the subtropics of the Northern Hemisphere
b) in the subtropics of the Southern Hemisphere
c) near the sea ice in the Southern Hemisphere
d) all of these
a) in the Northern Hemisphere of the Western
Continent
b) in the Southern Hemisphere of the Western
Continent
c) near the equator, east of the mountains on the
Eastern Continent
d) none of these
Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet; page 2
What is the likely effect of the mountains
on the west coast of the Eastern
Continent between 30°N and 60°N?
What is the likely result of when the sea
ice in the high latitudes of the Southern
Hemisphere expands (covers more area)?
Which area on land will most likely be
affected by a warm pool in the adjacent
ocean?
a) it will cause a rain shadow east of the mountains
b) it will cause a rain shadow west of the mountains
c) it will cause a rain shadow on the Western
Continent
a) increases planetary albedo
b) decreases planetary albedo
c) causes seawater nearby to be less salty
a) the tropical and subtropical parts of the Western
Continent adjacent to the ocean
b) the tropical and subtropical parts of the Eastern
Continent adjacent to the ocean
c) the interior of the Western Continent at 45°N
d) the interior of the Eastern Continent at 45°N
Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet; page 2
Table 2. Patterns of surface wind patterns and ocean currents
The globe below shows the same planet. On the globe draw and label the following:
 Likely regional surface wind patterns, such as westerlies and trade winds.
 Likely position of ocean currents; show warm currents in red, cold currents in blue, and
other currents (neither warm nor cold) in black.
 Locations of warm pools (shade in light red) and any area on land whose temperatures on
land would likely by influenced by a warm pool (shade affected land in orange).
 Any area whose precipitation is likely to be affected by orographic effects associated
with a mountain range. Shade an area green if it will receive more rainfall because of the
mountain range and yellow if it will receive less rainfall (is in a rain shadow).
Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet; page 2
Table 3. Optional Cross Sections (Only Do This If Requested by Your Instructor)
If directed to by your instructor, draw the following five cross sections at the locations and
orientations indicated below. Show surface wind patterns, zones of rising or sinking air, possible
geometries of a Walker cell (where appropriate), and cold and warm currents (just label the
position of any current that is moving in or out of the page).
East-west section between the Equator and 30° N
East-west section within a zone of westerlies
East-west section within the south polar zone, south of 60° S
A location and orientation of your choosing (show the location on the previous globe)
A north-south section through the ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, showing shallow
and deep flows that could link up into a thermohaline conveyor. Below the section, describe how
this might influence the climate of the planet and what would happen if this system stops.