WMS 7th Grade Science - Home

 Weather and Climate Unit TestName _____________________Study GuideTest Date: Tuesday, May 24State Objectives- You should be able to:Describe the relationship between the warming of the atmosphere of the Earth by the sun and convection within the atmosphere and oceans.Describe how the warming of the Earth by the sun produces winds and ocean currents. Describe how different weather occurs due to the constant motion of the atmosphere from the energy of the sun reaching the surface of the Earth.Describe weather conditions associated with frontal boundaries (cold, warm, stationary, and occluded) and the movement of major air masses and the jet stream across North America using a weather map. Explain how the temperature of the oceans affects the different climates on Earth because water in the oceans holds a large amount of heat. Compare and contrast the difference and relationship between climate and weather. Important VocabularyAtmosphereocean currentsstationary frontwarm fronthumiditywindoccluded front cold frontair massfrontconvection air pressureweatherclimatejet stream dew pointCoriolis effect Review QuestionsHow does the sun’s energy reach the Earth? Through solar radiation. This light energy then interacts with molecules in the Earth’s atmosphere, water and surfaces, transforming into heat energy. In what ways does the Earth warm unevenly? Earth surfaces (water/dark/light): Dark surfaces heat up and cool off fastest, then light surfaces. Water heats and cools the slowest. Oceans hold on to a lot of heat. Equator vs. Poles: The equator regions receive more direct sunlight than polar regions, so are warmer year round. 1790700533400Tilt: Because the Earth tilts on its axis, the northern hemisphere receives more direct sunlight during the summer months, less direct sunlight during the winter months. How does the sun’s heat cause convection in the air and water? Heat causes the molecules in the air and water to move faster and spread farther apart. This makes that fluid less dense than the air or water around it. Less dense things rise up through more dense things. The cooler air or water sinks down and moves in to replace the upward moving warm air/water.How does convection in the atmosphere and oceans cause currents? Convection currents form when warm air or water rises up and cool air or water moves in to replace it. This forms a cycle, creating moving air or water, or currents. What is air pressure? How is air pressure and density affected by temperature? Air pressure is the force exerted by air molecules in all directions. It is affected by gravity pulling on the air molecules/atmosphere. Air is more dense at the surface of the Earth because of gravity. More dense air exerts more pressure. Also, warmer temperatures make air less dense. Since less dense air rises up, it also causes lower pressure. Cooler temperatures make air more dense, which sinks down creating higher pressure. How is wind related to air pressure differences? Wind is the movement of air from areas of high pressure to low pressure. Where do the prevailing winds in Michigan come from, and why? Prevailing winds in Michigan come from the west (Westerlies). They are caused by the convection currents from air temperature/pressure differences between the equator and north pole, and the Coriolis Effect making the currents bend to the left. 20383501333500What is a front? The boundary between different air masses. Air masses are large areas of air with similar temperature and humidity. What is a warm front? What kind of weather patterns are associated with warm fronts? What is the map symbol for a warm front? A warm front occurs when a warm air mass moves up and over a cold air mass. Warmer temperatures and possible steady, gentle precipitation. What is a cold front? What kind of weather patterns are associated with a cold front? What is the map symbol for a cold front? A cold front occurs when a cold air mass moves into and under a warm air mass, pushing it upward. Towering clouds, showery precipitation, possible storms and cooler temperatures. What is a stationary front? What kind of weather is associated with stationary fronts? What is the map symbol for a stationary front? A stationary front occurs when two different air masses (cold and warm) push against each other, but neither is strong enough to push the other away. Their movement is stalled. Weather is similar to a warm front, but longer lasting. What is an occluded front? What kind of weather is associated with occluded fronts? What is the map symbol for an occluded front? An occluded front occurs when a cold air mass overtakes a warm front. The warm air gets trapped between the two cold air masses and is forced upward and cut off from the ground. Potential severe storms and cold front like weather occurs. 36480751038225 What are the map symbols for air masses of high and low pressure? What kind of weather is associated with each? High pressure systems usually cause clear, sunny skies and nice weather. Low pressure systems usually cause cloudy skies and possible precipitation. In what layer of the atmosphere does weather occur? The TroposphereWhat is the jet stream? What is its significance to humans? A high altitude current of fast moving air, it influences the path of weather systems below it. Useful for forecasting weather. 3162300742950What is dew point? How does it predict the occurrence of fog or precipitation? Dew Point is the temperature at which air will become saturated with water vapor. If the air temperature falls below this, it will precipitate in some way. What is the difference between weather and climate? Weather is the daily outside conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, air pressure, wind, cloud cover, etc. Climate is the long term (30+ years) average of a regions weather. Two different climates could experience individual days of the same weather. Like Florida and Michigan both being 70o and rainy on a day in June, but Florida’s overall climate is much warmer than Michigan’s. Explain how the oceans and ocean currents affect climates all over the world. Oceans hold a lot of heat. Ocean currents can carry this heat long distances, which then in turn warm up the air over new regions, making the climate milder than it would otherwise be. Also, cold water currents can cool the air above them, making a climate colder than it would otherwise be. 12477751571625What is the gulf stream, and what effect does it have on climates around the world? The gulf stream is a warm water current that begins in the Mediterranean and carries water north along the eastern shore of North America, across the Atlantic Ocean, and along the western shore of Europe. It is responsible for keeping the climate of western Europe quite a bit warmer than it would otherwise be. 7810501619250How do air and water temperatures vary with latitude? Air and water temperatures are generally warmer at lower latitudes (near the equator) due to receiving more direct sunlight. Air and water temperatures are generally colder at higher latitudes (near the poles), due to receiving less direct sunlight. 9715503314700How could you identify a Polar climate? Very cold winters, cool summers, little precipitationDry climate? Very low amounts of precipitation, hot days and cool nights all year longTropical climate? Hot all year long, high amounts of precipitationSevere climate? Warm summers and cold winters. Variable amounts of preciptation ................
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