Mr. Pearl – Earth Science
WPHS
CLIMATE
NAME:
DATE:
Climate refers to long term weather patterns on Earth. We have discussed for example, how
temperatures are higher in the tropics due to increased intensity of insolation. This means higher latitudes
have colder climates on average than locations closer to the Equator.
We have also discussed how the presence of mountains can create "rain shadows". When winds force
air up a mountain, it will expand, cool, reach the dew point, and most likely vapor will begin to condense into
clouds. On the other side of the mountain, the exact opposite occurs. This effect is especially obvious when
mountains are located near bodies of water, like the Cascades of Washington State near the Pacific Ocean.
Large bodies of water also moderate temperatures due to water's high specific heat. Places far from
oceans --like Chicago, IL--have much hotter summers and much colder winters than places near oceans--like
White Plains, NY--even if they are at the same latitude.
Finally, ocean currents (pg 4 ESRT) influence the climate.
A well known example is Ireland and the U.K. Based upon their
latitudes alone, they should be very cold. They are kept relatively
warm however, by the warm waters of the famous Gulf Stream
and North Atlantic Ocean Currents.
1. Name two warm ocean currents located in the North Pacific Ocean.
2. Why does the east coast of South America tend to be warmer than the west coast of South America?
Arrows on the maps show differences in
the direction of winds in the region of
India and the Indian Ocean during
January and July. Isobar values are
recorded in millibars.
3. Heavy monsoon rains usually
occur in India during
(1) January, when winds blow
from the land
(2) January, when winds blow
toward high pressure
(3) July, when winds blow from
the ocean
(4) July, when winds blow toward high pressure
4. The southern tip of India is much hotter than the northern regions because it is
(1) near the Indian Ocean
(2) at a high elevation
(3) near the Equator
(4) close to Mr. Pearl
Shipwreck
Base your answers to questions 5 - 8 on the passage and map below. The map
shows sections of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
In 1641, the crew of the Concepcion
used the Sun and stars for
navigation. They thought the ship
was just north of Puerto Rico, but
ocean currents had carried them off
course. The ship hit a coral reef and
sank off the coast of the Dominican
Republic. The X on the map marks
the location of the sunken ship.
5. At which location does Polaris
appear the highest in the sky?
(1) Miami, Florida
(2) Havana, Cuba
(3) Kingston, Jamaica
(4) San Juan, Puerto Rico
6. The Concepcion was carried off course to the northwest by an ocean current flowing from the
(1) Florida Current
(2) Gulf Stream Current
(3) North Atlantic Current
(4) North Equatorial Current
7. What is the approximate latitude and longitude of the sunken ship?
(1) 20.5° N 70° E
(2) 20.5° N 70° W
(3) 20.5° S 70° E
(4) 20.5° S 70° W
8. Why are average yearly temperatures higher at the 4 cities shown on the map than at cities in New York?
(1) They receive more intense annual insolation
(2) They are farther from the Prime Meridian
(3) They are all located on islands
(4) They are at lower elevations in the atmosphere.
9. The arrows in the cross section show the prevailing winds moving
across northern New York State into Vermont during the summer.
Compared to the climate of location A, the climate of location B is
(1) warmer and wetter
(2) warmer and drier
(3) cooler and wetter
(4) cooler and drier
10. Most of the Kamchatka Ocean Current is
(1) warm water that flows southwestward
(2) warm water that flows northeastward
(3) cool water that flows southwestward
(4) cool water that flows northeastward