Fall Semester Exam Review #1 (Units 5 & 6)

Question 1

What are the 4 types of Air Masses and what are their characteristics

Answer 1

contenental polar- cold moist air & dry

contential tropical- warm dry air & dry

maritime tropical- warm dry air & wet

maritime polar- cold moist air & wet

Question 2

cold front characteristics

Answer 2

when cold overtake warm

Brings fast moving thunderstorms and precipitation

After= clear skies and cooler temps

Question 3

cold front symbol

Answer 3

blue spikes

Question 4

warm front characteristics

Answer 4

where warm overtakes cold

typically brings drizzly rain

Question 5

warm front symbol

Answer 5

red ovals

Question 6

stationary front characteristics

Answer 6

warm and cold can’t overtake each other (bc of energy)

brings multiply days of precipitation and thunderstorms

Eventually either one mass will become stronger or they will both die out

Question 7

stationary front symbol

Answer 7

back and forth on different sides

Question 8

occluded front characteristics

Answer 8

warm air mass caught between 2 cold masses.

brings large amounts of rain and snow due to so much warm air rising to create clouds

Question 9

occluded front symbol

Answer 9

back on forth on same side

Question 10

How does the sun’s energy affect the ocean’s convection currents

Answer 10

The sun heats the Earth unevenly and causes differences in density to the air and water on Earth. These changes in density cause currents to circulate throughout Earth causing a natural cooling effect to Earth’s oceans and air (wind).

Question 11

What is Specific Heat

Answer 11

the amount of thermal energy needed to raise temp by 1 degree celsius

Question 12

How does Specific Heat apply to Earth’s oceans and atmosphere

Answer 12

The Earth’s oceans and atmosphere have water and air that change tempers at different rates (quickly or slowly)

Question 13

How does specific heat affect our oceans and atmosphere

Answer 13

Air doesn’t take much thermal energy to change its temp whereas water takes more thermal energy from the sun to warm

Question 14

What are Gyres

Answer 14

Large looped systems of surface currents moving in the same direction

they help cycle the water throughout Earth’s oceans

Question 15

What characteristics do Gyres have in different hemispheres

Answer 15

Northern- circle clockwise

Southern- circle counterclockwise

Question 16

Describe High Pressure systems and how they affect our weather

Answer 16

• cooler/denser sinking air
• When it nears the ground it spreads out toward areas of low pressure in a clockwise manner

Question 17

Describe Low Pressure systems and how they affect our weather

Answer 17

• warmer/less dense rising air

-It rises into the atmosphere in an inward and upward motion

Question 18

Coriolis effect

Answer 18

the movement of wind or currents in a curved path due to Earth’s rotation

Question 19

What 3 things impact wind

Answer 19

Coriolis effect
air pressure
convection

Question 20

What two things impact deep currents

Answer 20

salinity
temp

Question 21

El Nino

Answer 21

Weather phenonmenon that occure is the Pacific Ocean

creates high pressure of the Western Pacific (SE Asia and Australia) and low pressure overthe Eastern Pacific (by CA)

Question 22

What type of pressure ofren brings precipitation and why

Answer 22

low because when air rises, it brings clouds, leading to precipitation

Question 23

What type of weather is associated with high pressure

Answer 23

sunny and clear weather with no clouds

this is because high pressure air cool and sinking, so clouds cannot form

Question 24

How do you know what direction a front is moving on a weather map

Answer 24

based on the way the front is pointing

Question 25

What are 3 ways that carbon is fast cycled

Answer 25

photosynthesis
cellular respiration
decaying matter

Question 26

In what sphere does fast cycling occure

Answer 26

biosphere

Question 27

What is the greatest output on Earth of Greenhosue Gases

Answer 27

burning of fossil fuels
automobiles

Question 28

What is coral bleaching

Answer 28

because coral are sensitive to temp changes, when water temp increases, it causes coral to release their photosynthetic algae. They then lose color, and coral bleaching essentially kills the coral

Question 29

How does deforestation impact CO2 in the atmosphere

Answer 29

Deforestation increases Co2 in the atmosphere because there are less producers conducting photosynthesis and removing Co2 from the atmosphere

Question 30

What are the main types of greenhouse gases

Answer 30

water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide

Question 31

How do producers impact the carbon cycle

Answer 31

Their ability to conduct photosynthesis allows for oxygen to be placed into the atmosphere and for carbon to leave the atmosphere.

Question 32

How do seasons impact the carbon cycle

Answer 32

Growings seasons in the summer and spring where the plans are growing and more active allow for more Co2 to be taken from the atmosphere

The winter and summer seasons where plants go dormant or die don’t cause less Co2 to be taken from the atmosphere

Question 33

Where does carbon first enter food webs

Answer 33

From plants as they absorb carbon from the atmosphere

Question 34

What would be the side effects to the carbon cycle in case of a volcanic eruption

Answer 34

Global temps could cool to ash and sulfur dioxide particles in the atmosphere. This would also limit plant growth due to the lack of sunlight for photosynthesis

Question 35

What does an increase in ultraviolet radiation tell us?

Answer 35

Ozone layer is thinning and more UV radiation is able to get through the atmosphere

Question 36

What does the thickness or thinning of polar ice caps tell us

Answer 36

The temp. of the Earth is warming (climate change?)