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Card 1
Define weather and climate using an analogy.
Weather can be thought of as your mood today, which changes quickly, while climate is like your personality, which develops and stays consistent over time.
Card 2
What is the primary difference in the timeframes over which weather and climate change?
Weather changes happen from minute to minute or day to day, whereas climate changes occur over years or decades.
Card 3
What is climate?
Climate refers to the average pattern of weather in a region over a long period, typically 30 years or more, and remains relatively stable and predictable.
Card 4
What is weather?
Weather refers to the immediate atmospheric conditions at a particular place and time, and it can change quickly, within hours or days.
Card 5
Which of the following is an example of weather?
- A. A tropical climate
- B. A desert climate
- C. A thunderstorm tonight (correct)
- D. A polar climate
Card 6
Which of the following best describes climate?
- A. The average pattern of weather in a region over a long period (correct)
- B. Immediate atmospheric conditions at a particular place and time
- C. Changes that happen from minute to minute or day to day
- D. Rain in the afternoon or cloudy skies in the morning
Card 7
Name three factors that are involved in both weather and climate.
Both weather and climate involve factors such as temperature, precipitation, wind, and sunlight in a specific region.
Card 8
How do trade winds affect tropical regions?
Trade winds, also known as easterlies, blow from east to west near the equator and carry warm, moist air that brings heavy rainfall to tropical regions.
Card 9
How do westerlies influence the climate of mid-latitude regions like Europe and North America?
Westerlies blow from west to east in the mid-latitudes, carrying ocean air inland. This moderates temperatures and brings storms to places like Europe and North America.
Card 10
What is the significance of prevailing winds in shaping global climate?
Prevailing winds play a major role in shaping global climate by distributing heat and moisture around the globe, which in turn creates different climate zones.
Card 11
What is one key similarity between weather and climate?
- A. Both change quickly within hours or days
- B. Both involve factors like temperature and precipitation (correct)
- C. Both refer to long-term conditions of a region
- D. Both are examples of immediate atmospheric conditions
Card 12
What is the general timeframe for climate to change?
Climate changes occur over years or decades.
Card 13
Give an example of a climate type.
Examples of climate types include tropical climate, desert climate, or polar climate.
Card 14
Give an example of a weather condition.
Examples of weather conditions include rain in the afternoon, cloudy skies in the morning, or a thunderstorm tonight.
Card 15
Why is awareness of what governs weather and climate important?
Awareness of what governs weather and climate strengthens our ability to live in harmony with the planet.
Card 16
Define the rain shadow phenomenon.
The rain shadow phenomenon occurs when moist air from an ocean moves inland, rises over mountains, cools, and releases precipitation on the windward side, leaving the leeward side much drier as the air descends, warms, and loses most of its moisture.
Card 17
How does the California Current affect the climate of California's coast?
The California Current is a cold ocean current that cools California's coast, resulting in mild summers and moderate winters.
Card 18
Explain how the Gulf Stream influences Virginia's coastal climate.
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that brings hotter summers and milder, but still cooler, winters to Virginia's coast. This contrasts with California's steadier climate, leading to greater seasonal temperature swings in Virginia.
Card 19
Which of the following best describes the effect of the California Current on local climate?
- A. It keeps summers mild and winters moderate. (correct)
- B. It causes hotter summers and colder winters.
- C. It leads to significant seasonal temperature swings.
- D. It primarily affects inland temperatures, not coastal.
Card 20
Why does land heat up and cool down faster than water?
Land heats up and cools down faster than water because it has a low specific heat capacity. This means land requires less energy to change its temperature compared to water, which has a much higher specific heat capacity.
Card 21
What is thermal inertia, and how does it relate to oceans?
Thermal inertia refers to an object's resistance to rapid temperature changes. Oceans have greater thermal inertia due to water's high specific heat capacity, allowing them to resist quick temperature shifts and act as massive heat sinks.
Card 22
What is the primary reason areas near large bodies of water experience more moderate climates?
- A. The constant presence of sea breezes.
- B. The reflection of sunlight off the water's surface.
- C. Water's high specific heat capacity and thermal inertia. (correct)
- D. The evaporation of water cooling the air.
Card 23
How do large bodies of water moderate temperatures in coastal areas during the day and night?
During the day, land heats faster than water, and the cooler air from the sea moves inland as a sea breeze, cooling coastal areas. At night, land cools rapidly, but the ocean slowly releases stored heat, keeping coastal areas warmer.
Card 24
Define a sea breeze.
A sea breeze is the movement of cooler air from the sea towards the land during the daytime. It occurs because land heats up faster than the sea, causing warm air above the land to rise, and cooler sea air moves in to replace it.
Card 25
Which city's climate is characterized by cooler, more stable summers and milder winters due to its proximity to a cold ocean and unique fog?
- A. San Francisco, CA (correct)
- B. Virginia Beach, VA
- C. Giza, Egypt
- D. The Amazon Rain Forest, Brazil
Card 26
What is the typical July high temperature in San Francisco, CA, and what causes it to be cooler?
San Francisco's typical July high is around 66 °F. This cooler temperature is due to its proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean, unique fog, and moderating ocean currents.
Card 27
Contrast the summer and winter temperatures of San Francisco, CA, and Virginia Beach, VA, explaining the reasons for the differences.
San Francisco has cooler, more stable summers (around 66 °F) and milder winters (around 46 °F) due to the cold Pacific and moderating ocean currents. Virginia Beach experiences hotter summers (near 89 °F) and colder winters (near 34 °F) because it lacks these moderating factors, despite Atlantic influence.
Card 28
What happens to the air as it rises over the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains?
- A. It becomes warmer and drier.
- B. It cools, condenses, and releases precipitation. (correct)
- C. It gains moisture and becomes warmer.
- D. It remains at a constant temperature and humidity.
Card 29
Describe the climate and vegetation on the west side of the Cascade Mountains.
The west side of the Cascade Mountains is lush with forests and abundant vegetation. This is because moist air from the Pacific Ocean rises over these slopes, cools, condenses, and releases significant precipitation.
Card 30
What is the climate like on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, and why?
The east side of the Cascade Mountains has a much drier climate with limited vegetation. This is because by the time air descends on the east side, it has lost most of its moisture and becomes warmer and drier, creating a rain shadow effect.
Card 31
Define a land breeze.
A land breeze is the movement of air from the land to the sea at night. This happens because land cools faster than the sea, causing warmer air above the sea to rise, and cooler, denser air from the land flows toward the sea.
Card 32
How do large bodies of water affect the climate of nearby areas?
Large bodies of water heat up and cool down more slowly than land, which moderates nearby temperatures. This maritime influence results in milder climates, with cooler summers and warmer winters compared to inland areas.
Card 33
Explain why New York experiences cooler summers and warmer winters compared to Peoria, Illinois, despite being at the same latitude.
New York experiences milder temperatures due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Large bodies of water like the ocean moderate temperatures, leading to cooler summers and warmer winters. Peoria, being inland, has a more continental climate with hotter summers and colder winters.
Card 34
Which of the following best describes the effect of a sea breeze on coastal areas?
- A. It makes coastal areas cooler during the day. (correct)
- B. It makes coastal areas warmer during the day.
- C. It makes coastal areas cooler at night.
- D. It has no significant effect on coastal temperatures.
Card 35
How does elevation generally affect climate?
As elevation increases, temperatures decline and conditions become drier. This leads to a progression of different vegetation zones, from tropical forests at low elevations to tundra, snow, and ice at the highest peaks.
Card 36
Explain why Cayambe, located directly on the equator, has a permanently snow-capped summit.
Despite its equatorial location, Cayambe's summit is permanently snow-capped due to its high elevation of about 5,790 meters above sea level. At such altitudes, air pressure is lower and temperatures drop significantly, allowing snow and glaciers to exist.
Card 37
In which climatic zone would you typically find four distinct seasons?
- A. Tropical zone
- B. Temperate zone (correct)
- C. Polar zone
- D. Subtropical zone
Card 38
What are the two main types of climates within the temperate zone?
The two main types are Maritime and Continental. Maritime climates are found near oceans with cool summers and mild winters, while Continental climates are inland with hot summers and cold winters.
Card 39
Which characteristic is typical of a tropical zone climate?
- A. Mild to moderate with four seasons.
- B. Cool summers and mild winters.
- C. Hot and humid with plenty of rain. (correct)
- D. Hot summers and cold winters.
Card 40
DEFINITION: What is a maritime climate?
A maritime climate is a type of temperate climate found near oceans. It is characterized by cool summers and mild winters, due to the moderating influence of the large body of water.
Card 41
What are the two main seasons experienced in the Philippines, given its location in the tropical zone?
The Philippines experiences two main seasons: the wet (rainy) season and the dry season, due to its tropical zone location which results in a hot and humid climate with plenty of rain.
Card 42
Which of the following describes the typical temperature trend as elevation increases?
- A. Temperatures decline. (correct)
- B. Temperatures increase.
- C. Temperatures remain constant.
- D. Temperatures fluctuate unpredictably.
Card 43
What is unique about Cayambe Volcano in relation to the equator?
Cayambe is the only point on the equator with a permanent glacier. This is due to its high elevation, which causes temperatures to drop significantly despite its equatorial position.
Card 44
What is the primary effect of latitude on Earth's climate?
Latitude dictates the intensity and duration of sun exposure on the Earth. The farther a place is from the equator, the less sunlight and heat it receives on the ground.
Card 45
Define the characteristics of the tropical climatic zone.
The tropical zone has a hot and humid climate, with plenty of sunlight and frequent rains all year round. Its distinctive climates include equatorial, tropical continental, and hot deserts.
Card 46
Which of the following pH values is typical for normal rain?
- A. pH 7.0
- B. pH 4.3
- C. pH 5.6 (correct)
- D. pH 8.1
Card 47
How does acid rain form and what are its potential effects?
Acid rain forms when emissions of SO2 and NOx are released into the air, transformed into acid particles, and then fall to Earth as wet and dry deposition. These acid particles can cause harmful effects on soil, forests, streams, and lakes.
Card 48
Explain why normal rain is slightly acidic.
Normal rain is slightly acidic because carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolves into it from the atmosphere, forming weak carbonic acid. This natural process typically results in a pH of about 5.6.
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