Deck 7: Review of Earthʹs Climate System

Question 1

An empirical classification is based on,among other factors

A)the origin or genesis of the climate.
B)the mean annual temperature and precipitation of an area.
C)causative factors.
D)the interaction of air masses.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The two principle climate components are

A)pressure and wind speed.
B)precipitation and pressure.
C)temperature and pressure.
D)temperature and precipitation.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A genetic classification system can be based partly on

A)mean annual precipitation.
B)the interaction of air masses.
C)statistics or other data used to determine general categories.
D)mean annual temperature.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

As distance from the equator increases,seasonal variation in temperature tends to

A)increase.
B)remain constant.
C)decrease.

Question 5

World temperature patterns are primarily controlled by the following control EXCEPT

A)urban heat islands.
B)latitude.
C)continentality.
D)elevation.

Question 6

A climate classification based on the geographic determinants of climate,such as latitude or elevation,is an example of a(n)

A)empirical classification.
B)genetic classification.
C)combined classification.

Question 7

Global circulation patterns of winds and ocean currents,which drive weather systems and,ultimately,climate patterns are created by

A)the coriolis force.
B)the differential heating properties of land and water.
C)frictional force caused by Earthʹs spinning on its axis.
D)imbalances created by energy surpluses and deficits at the equator and poles,respectively.

Question 8

The study of the climate and its variability is

A)climatology.
B)weather science.
C)weatherology.
D)meteorology.

Question 9

A climate classification based on statistics or other data determined by measurements of observed effects is a(n)

A)empirical classification.
B)genetic classification.
C)combined classification.

Question 10

A climate classification system based on causative factors is an example of a(n)

A)empirical classification.
B)combined classification.
C)genetic classification.

Question 11

Major ecosystems determined largely by climatic regions and classified largely based on predominant vegetation are called

A)biomes.
B)associations.
C)zoogeographic regions.
D)climate zones.

Question 12

A climate classification based on moisture using a water budget approach is an example of a(n)

A)empirical classification.
B)genetic classification.
C)combined classification.

Question 13

Areas dominated by maritime air masses will be relatively ,and that those dominated by continental air masses will be relatively .

A)dry; dry
B)dry; wet
C)wet; wet
D)wet; dry

Question 14

Which of the following lists the CORRECT,generalized sequence of climates from the equator to the poles?

A)Tropical → Mesothermal → Dry → Microthermal → Polar
B)Tropical → Dry → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Polar
C)Dry → Tropical → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Polar
D)Polar → Microthermal → Dry → Mesothermal → Tropical
E)Tropical → Dry → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Highland

Question 15

A climate classification based on causative factors,such as the interactions of air masses is a(n)

A)empirical classification.
B)genetic classification.
C)combined classification.

Question 16

An area defined by characteristic,long-term weather patterns is called

A)an ecosystem.
B)a biome.
C)an average weather place.
D)a climatic region.

Question 17

Climate is

A)the short-term condition of the atmosphere.
B)the weather of a region.
C)the long-term atmospheric condition including extremes that may occur.
D)a reference to temperature patterns only.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the difference between weather and climate?

A)Climate is the collective pattern of atmospheric conditions in a given region over long periods of time,whereas weather is the atmospheric conditions at a given time and place.
B)Climate refers specifically to the temperature of a given place at a given time,whereas weather refers to temperature,humidity,pressure,and wind conditions of a given place at a given time.
C)Weather refers specifically to the temperature of a given place at a given time,whereas climate refers to temperature,humidity,pressure,and wind conditions of a given place at a given time.
D)Weather is the collective pattern of atmospheric conditions in a given region over long periods of time,whereas climate is the atmospheric conditions at a given time and place.
E)Weather and climate are essentially the same thing.

Question 19

Regarding average annual precipitation,which of the following is CORRECT?

A)The highest amounts occur throughout subtropical latitudes.
B)The precipitation tends to increase with latitude toward the poles.
C)The highest average values occur along the equator.
D)The drier regions are associated with the eastern portions of major landmasses.

Question 20

Which of the following is an element of weather and climate?

A)Insolation
B)Atmospheric moisture
C)Temperature
D)Air pressure
E)Insolation,temperature,atmospheric moisture,and air pressure are all elements of weather and climate.

Question 21

The bulk of the Amazon River drainage basin is dominated by which one of the following climate classifications?

A)Tropical savanna
B)Tropical monsoon
C)Tropical rainforest
D)Humid subtropical

Question 22

Humid subtropical hot-summer climates receive precipitation during the summer and precipitation in winter.

A)orographic; frontal
B)frontal; convectional
C)convectional; frontal
D)convectional; ITCZ

Question 23

Tropical climates are typically located

A)straddling the equator between 20° N/S.
B)primarily in areas associated with cold ocean currents.
C)in all areas of Earth influenced by a subtropical high pressure system.
D)in higher latitudes influenced by continental tropical air masses.

Question 24

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Tropical rain forest
B)Tropical savanna
C)Highland
D)Humid subtropical

Question 25

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Marine west coast
B)Mediterranean
C)Tropical savanna
D)Tropical rain forest

Question 26

Which air mass appears to predominately influence the humid subtropical region?

A)Maritime equatorial (mE)
B)Continental polar (cP)
C)Maritime polar (mP)
D)Continental tropical (cT)
E)Maritime tropical (mT)

Question 27

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Semiarid steppe
B)Humid subtropical winter-dry
C)Mediterranean
D)Tropical monsoon

Question 28

Which of the following is FALSE regarding the tropical rain forest climate?

A)The annual temperature range is larger than the daily temperature range.
B)It is influenced by the ITCZ year-round.
C)Thunderstorms occur almost daily.
D)It does not experience a winter season.

Question 29

Humid subtropical hot-summer climates

A)have a pronounced dry period.
B)air moist all year.
C)can be either moist all year or have a pronounced dry period.

Question 30

The tropical rain forest climate receives most of its rainfall as a result of

A)convectional uplift.
B)orographic uplift.
C)frontal uplift.
D)both convectional and frontal uplift.

Question 31

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of tropical climates.

A)Unstable air masses
B)Short,though relatively mild,winters
C)Warm ocean temperatures
D)Consistent day lengths

Question 32

The Amazon equatorial rain forest of South America,which extends from the east coast far into the interior,has developed in response to the air mass pulling air inland from the air mass.

A)mT; E to W
B)mP; E to W
C)mT; W to E
D)cT; NE to SW

Question 33

The only interruption to the distribution of tropical forest climates across equatorial regions are

A)in highland areas,such as the Andes and Mt.Kilimanjaro.
B)the five distinct mediterranean climates.
C)several equatorial deserts caused by rain shadows.
D)the tropical savannas of Africa and South America.

Question 34

The tropical savanna climate has

A)the ITCZ in summer and the subtropical high in winter.
B)the polar front all year-round.
C)the polar front in winter and the subtropical high in summer.
D)the ITCZ all year-round.

Question 35

In terms of total land and ocean area,which of the following climate classifications is the most extensive?

A)Mesothermal climates
B)Tropical climates
C)Microthermal climates
D)Dry climates

Question 36

Which of the following characterizes a tropical savanna climate?

A)The sunʹs direct rays are overhead (subsolar point)are overhead twice each year.
B)Its annual temperature variability is less than that of the tropical rain forest.
C)It experiences a summer wet season,and is dominated by the ITCZ for nearly 12 months of the year.
D)All months receive precipitation in excess of 6 cm (2.4 in.).

Question 37

Mesothermal climates

A)have a high degree of air mass interaction.
B)are essentially seasonless.
C)occupy more land and sea surface area than any other climate region.
D)are sparsely populated by humans.

Question 38

The dry season in the tropical monsoon climate occurs when

A)the ITCZ moves away from the region.
B)cold air masses dominate the region.
C)cold ocean currents shift into the region.
D)a continental polar air mass influences the region.

Question 39

The wet season of the tropical monsoon climate of SE Asia occurs during the season of Sun due to the presence of the over the continent.(low Sun = ʺwinterʺ and high Sun =
ʺsummerʺ)

A)low; ITCZ
B)high; ITCZ
C)high; subtropical high
D)low; subtropical high

Question 40

The largest percentage of Earthʹs population lives within the

A)Mesothermal climates.
B)Microthermal climates.
C)Tropical climates.
D)Desert climates.

Question 41

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Highland
B)Mediterranean
C)Humid subtropical winter-dry
D)Tropical monsoon

Question 42

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Humid continental hot-summer
B)Marine west coast
C)Mediterranean
D)Humid subtropical winter-dry

Question 43

Which type of vegetation grows in the Mediterranean climate?

A)Rain forest
B)Chaparral
C)Taiga
D)Boreal forest

Question 44

Which of the following is FALSE regarding the Mediterranean climate?

A)Seventy percent of the precipitation occurs in the winter months.
B)Summers are influenced by shifting subtropical high cells.
C)The bulk of precipitation occurs in the summer months.
D)Summers are hot.

Question 45

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Humid subtropical winter-dry
B)Humid subtropical hot-summer
C)Mediterranean
D)Tropical monsoon

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT true of marine west-coast climates?

A)The weather is quite unpredictable.
B)They are dominated by mP air masses.
C)These climates experience very cold winters because of their high latitude (about 45° to 55° north).
D)The air masses in this region are unstable.

Question 47

Los Angeles,located in a Mediterranean climate zone,is kept during the summer because of the presence of .

A)dry; the cold California current off the coast
B)dry; mountains along the western side of the city
C)wet; mountains along the western side of the city
D)wet; the warm California current off the coast

Question 48

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Subtropical hot desert
B)Tundra
C)Mediterranean
D)Humid continental hot-summer

Question 49

Humid subtropical hot summer climates in typically experience .

A)North America; dry winters due to cold ocean currents.
B)Asia; wet summers due to cyclonic storm tracks.
C)North America; wet summers due to monsonal conditions.
D)Asia; dry winters due to monsoonal conditions.

Question 50

Which is TRUE of humid subtropical hot-summer climates?

A)Their rainy season is limited to winter months.
B)They have cold ocean currents off shore.
C)They are influenced by the monsoons in Asia.
D)Cyclonic storms account for all the precipitation for this climate in North America.

Question 51

Which is TRUE of humid subtropical winter-dry climates?

A)The wettest summers month receive approximately 2 to 3 times more precipitation than the driest winter month.
B)The ʺdriestʺ winter months still have at least 7.5 cm (3 inches)of precipitation.
C)Few natural hazards occur throughout the humid subtropical winter-dry climates.
D)The winter dry season is related to the seasonal pulse of the monsoons.

Question 52

Which of the following is NOT a causal element of microthermal climates?

A)Increasing seasonality.
B)Cyclonic activity.
C)Latitudinal; effects on temperature.
D)Very limited continentality.

Question 53

Which air masses influence the humid continental hot-summer climates in North America?

A)Continental polar (cP)in winter; continental tropical (cT)in summer
B)Continental polar (cP)year-round
C)Continental polar in summer (cP)and continental Arctic (cA)in winter
D)Continental polar (cP)in winter; maritime tropical (mT)in summer

Question 54

Marine west coast climates are dominated by what air mass?

A)Continental polar (cP)
B)Maritime polar (mP)
C)Maritime tropical (mT)
D)Continental tropical (cT)

Question 55

Which of the following is NOT related to the 98th meridian in the United States?

A)It corresponds closely to the 51 cm (20 in.)isohyet of mean annual precipitation
B)The area bordering this meridian was originally dominated by native grasses growing in a deep-sod cover.
C)Corn,wheat,and soybean production occur in this area.
D)Tall grass prairies occur to the east of it,and short grass prairies to the west.
E)The land is drier to the east of the meridian and wetter to the west.

Question 56

Which of the following is TRUE of microthermal climates?

A)They occupy the largest land area of any climate.
B)They are only in highland regions.
C)They have a small seasonal temperature range.
D)All of the subtypes of this climate have a uniform annual precipitation regime.

Question 57

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Tropical rain forest
B)Humid subtropical winter-dry
C)Humid subtropical hot-summer
D)Humid continental mild-summer

Question 58

Mediterranean dry-summer climates

A)experience wet conditions in summer due to the ITCZ overhead.
B)experience dry conditions in summer due to the subtropical high overhead.
C)are bordered poleward by steppe climates.
D)experience wet conditions in winter due to the ITCZ overhead.

Question 59

A climate that is mesothermal and has a long,hot,dry summer would be designated by which of the following?

A)Tropical savanna
B)Humid continental hot-summer
C)Semiarid steppe
D)Humid subtropical hot-summer
E)Mediterranean

Question 60

Which of the following is TRUE regarding humid continental hot -summer and humid continental mild-summer climates?

A)Snowfall is notably heavier in humid continental mild-summer climates than in humid continental hot-summer climates.
B)Overall,humid continental mild-summer climates receive more precipitation than humid continental hot-summer climates do.
C)Agriculture is not feasible in humid continental mild-summer climates due to the cooler weather,whereas it is very important in humid continental hot -summer climates.
D)Humid continental mild-summer climates are located further equatorward than humid continental hot-summer climates are.

Question 61

Which of the following is NOT true of tropical and subtropical hot desert climates?

A)They are under the influence of subtropical high pressure systems.
B)They are generally found on the western side of continents.
C)Annual average temperatures are above 18°C (64.4°F).
D)In most years,they do not receive any precipitation.

Question 62

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Subtropical hot steppe
B)Mediterranean
C)Marine west coast
D)Tropical savanna

Question 63

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding tundra climates?

A)Spruce,fir and larch trees survive in this climate zone.
B)Summer temperatures are never higher than 10°C (50°F).
C)There is no true summer in this region.
D)The land is under continuous snow cover from 8 to 10 months.

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a causal element of dry climates?

A)Dry,subsiding air associated with subtropical high pressure systems.
B)Seasonal influence of the ITCZ.
C)Cool,stabilizing ocean currents along the western margins of continents.
D)Location in the rain shadow of mountains.

Question 65

The condition of the atmosphere at any given time and place is called climate.

Question 66

Which climatic region occupies the most extensive area of land on Earth?

A)Microthermal climates
B)Polar climates
C)Mesothermal climates
D)Dry climates

Question 67

Which of the following has a typical subarctic,very cold winter climate?

A)Dalian,China
B)Churchill,Manitoba
C)Verkhoyansk,Siberia,Russia
D)Duluth,Minnesota

Question 68

The low-latitude hot desert climates occur

A)in the tropics and subtropics.
B)in polar regions.
C)along the midlatitude,west coasts of continents.
D)only in midlatitude rainshadow positions.

Question 69

Along the periphery of hot deserts,where shifting subtropical high pressure cells create a distinct summer-dry and winter-wet pattern,one finds

A)humid subtropical hot-summer climates.
B)marine west coast climates.
C)tropical monsoon climates.
D)tropical,subtropical hot steppe climates.

Question 70

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding ice-sheet climates?

A)There is very little precipitation.
B)The climate is dominated by dry,frigid airmasses.
C)The only month with an average temperature above freezing corresponds to the summer solstice (June in the Northern Hemisphere,December in the Southern Hemisphere).
D)There are vast expanses that never warm above freezing.

Question 71

Which of the following is INCORRECT regarding climate regions and climate change?

A)Subtropical high pressures systems and associated dry conditions are moving to higher latitudes.
B)The boundaries of climate regions are fairly static.
C)Many areas are becoming more prone to drought.
D)Tropical climates are expanding to higher latitudes.

Question 72

Which of the following is a causal element of polar climates?

A)High precipitation,primarily in the form of snow.
B)High sun altitude during the summer months.
C)Low surface albedo due to ground cover.
D)Extremes of daylength between summer and winter.

Question 73

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Midlatitude cold desert
B)Tundra
C)Humid continental mild-summer
D)Polar maritime

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT true of the subarctic climate regions of Canada and Asia?

A)This climatic zone experiences exceptionally large annual temperature ranges.
B)This climate zone constitutes the maximum poleward extent of forests.
C)The area can experience summer temperatures in the nineties.
D)Permafrost occurs here.
E)Broadleaf deciduous trees,such as maple and sweetgum,dominate the area.

Question 75

Dry climates are divided into two types according to moisture.These are

A)deserts and steppe.
B)chaparral and tundra.
C)steppe and chaparral.
D)deserts and tundra.

Question 76

The annual temperature range of South Georgia Island is low despite its high latitude because the islandʹs climate

A)is influenced by the ocean.
B)receives blasts of Antarctic air in the winter months.
C)is dominated by dry,frigid air masses year-round.
D)has higher than average precipitation that mitigates against the extreme cold weather.

Question 77

Potential evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation in all parts of which climate type?

A)Semiarid steppe
B)Humid subtropical winter-dry
C)Tropical savanna
D)Mediterranean

Question 78

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Marine west coast
B)Subarctic cold-winter
C)Tropical rain forest
D)Humid subtropical winter-dry

Question 79

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type?

A)Tropical rain forest
B)Marine west coast
C)Humid subtropical hot-summer
D)Subtropical hot desert

Question 80

Dengue fever,an infectious tropical disease carried by mosquitos,has

A)spread previously unaffected areas due to changes in climatic conditions.
B)never been reported in the U.S.,but scientists fear it may arrive due to expansion of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
C)shifted equatorward due to desertification in the subtropics.
D)been nearly wiped out because of climate change related shifts in subtropical high pressure cells.
TRUE/FALSE.Write ʹTʹ if the statement is true and ʹFʹ if the statement is false.