Objective 3.2 and 3.3 Unit Questions
Write answers on YOUR OWN PAPER!
Chapter 15
1. How long does it take for the Sun’s energy to reach the Earth?
2. What percentage of the energy radiated by the sun reaches Earth?
3. _____ is the transfer of energy as heat through a material.
4. _____ is the transfer of energy by circulation or movement of a gas.
5. _____ is the circular movement of warm air rising and cool air sinking.
6. _____ is the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.
7. Explain what process produces the greenhouse effect.
8. The balance between incoming solar energy and outgoing solar energy radiated into
space is called _____.
9. A gradual increase in average global warming is called ____.
10. What causes differences in air pressure?
11. The movement of air caused by differences in air pressure is called ____.
12. Air is warmer and less dense than surrounding air at the equator because the
equator receives more _____.
13. Because air at the poles is colder and denser than surrounding air, it _____.
14. High pressure areas are created around the poles as air _____.
15. When the paths of winds and ocean currents seem to curve because of Earth’s
rotation, it’s called _____.
16. _____ are winds that blow from 30 degrees latitude in both hemispheres.
17. _____ area around the equator where the trade winds meet.
18. _____ wind formed as cold, sinking air moves from the poles to 60 degrees north
and 60 degrees south.
19. _____ are wind belts that extend between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in
both hemispheres.
20. _____ an area in which sinking air creates high pressure and weak winds at about 30
degrees north and 30 degrees south latitude.
21. Narrow belts of high speed winds in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere
are called _____.
22. Name four local winds from your book. How are they named?
Chapter 16
23. _____ is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout.
24. What are the 2 main characteristics of air masses?
25. What are the letters used to describe air masses? Tell what each means.
26. The boundary between air masses of different densities and usually different
temperatures is called a _____.
27. _____ is a warm air mass that moves over a cold, denser air mass.
28. _____ is when a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses.
29. _____ occurs when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass but the two remain
separated.
30. _____ occurs when a cold air mass moves under a warm, less dense air mass.
31. Describe the weather that a cold front brings on.
32. Describe the weather that a warm front brings on.
33. Describe the weather that a stationary front brings on.
34. Describe the weather an occluded front brings on.
35. What type of weather is associated with a low pressure system?
36. What type of weather is associated with a high pressure system?
37. What is severe weather?
38. Which type of cloud produces thunderstorms?
39. The sound caused by air rapidly expanding along a lightning strike is called _____.
40. What is a funnel cloud?
41. How is a funnel cloud different from a tornado?
42. What causes a group of thunderstorms to become a tornado?
43. Why does a hurricane begin to die when it reaches land?
44. _____ are clouds that spiral around the center of a hurricane.
45. _____ are cumulonimbus clouds that produce strong winds and heavy rains.
46. _____ is the core of warm, calm air.