Deck 8: Climatic and Climate Change

Question 1

Of the main Köppen climate zones, ________ is the only one that does not occur in the Southern Hemisphere.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The classification scheme of the ancient Greeks was discarded ________.

A) before written history
B) in the 1ˢᵗ century BC
C) in the Dark Ages
D) in the Renaissance
E) in the 20ᵗʰ century

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The climatic type for the desert areas is ________.

A) Am
B) BW
C) Aw
D) Dfa
E) Cfa

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The world record for greatest precipitation received in a single year is on the order of ________ centimeters.

A) 2.6
B) 26
C) 260
D) 2,600
E) 260,000

Question 5

A middle latitude climate type located on the western edges of the continents is the ________ climate.

A) Cfa
B) Dfa
C) Dwa
D) Csb
E) BWh

Question 6

At its equatorward margin the ________ climate is bounded by the 0° Celsius isotherm of average annual temperature.

A) Dfa
B) Dwa
C) ET
D) EF
E) BW

Question 7

Topic: Figure 8-11
Geog Standards: New Geog Standards 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
The desire to simplify, organize, and generalize the vast array of climatic data into a comprehensible system that helps us understand the distribution of climates over Earth leads to ________.

A) classification
B) averaging
C) weather forecasting
D) compromise
E) frustration

Question 8

The mountain, or H climates, exhibit ________.

A) vertical zonation
B) surprisingly similar climate conditions all over Earth
C) warmer temperatures than their lowland counterparts
D) lower precipitation than their lowland counterparts
E) a lack of significant place-to-place differences in exposure

Question 9

A climograph

A) does not appear in the textbook.
B) cannot be constructed for most places in the world.
C) can be used to classify climate.
D) is an imprecise display of data.
E) is usually in the form of a map.

Question 10

Topic: Figure 9-11
Geog Standards: New Geog Standards 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
Which climate type is known for clear skies in the summertime?

A) Af
B) Cfa
C) Dfa
D) Csa
E) Am

Question 11

The Köppen system of climate classification is based on ________.

A) solar radiation
B) temperature and precipitation
C) evapotranspiration
D) sensible temperature indices
E) cumulative humidity indices

Question 12

The tropical monsoon climate bears a letter classification of

A) Aw.
B) BW.
C) Am.
D) BS.
E) Cfa.

Question 13

The world's highest recorded temperature was in Libya and closest to ________ degrees Celsius.

A) 8
B) 18
C) 28
D) 58
E) 108

Question 14

The furthest north citrus can be grown in North American is at ________ North latitude in the California Cs climate type.

A) 8°
B) 18°
C) 38°
D) 58°
E) 78°

Question 15

Another designation for the mediterranean climate is ________.

A) dry summer subtropical
B) midlatitude steppe
C) upland savanna
D) boreal forest
E) midlatitude monsoon

Question 16

The midlatitude steppe fits into the Köppen classification as ________.

A) BWk
B) Cwa
C) Aw
D) BSk
E) ET

Question 17

The Cs climatic type is usually located on the ________ part of the continents.

A) north
B) south
C) east
D) west
E) highland

Question 18

The main reason for the occurrence of subtropical deserts around the world is ________.

A) locations of anticyclones
B) the westerly winds
C) the intertropical convergence
D) easterly winds
E) position of the cold ocean currents

Question 19

The world's highest average annual precipitation is associated with a mountain in Hawaii where a total of CLOSEST TO ________ centimeters is received.

A) 10
B) 100
C) 1,000
D) 10,000
E) 100,000

Question 20

All months have average temperatures below freezing in the ________ climatic type.

A) BS
B) EF
C) ET
D) Dfa
E) Csa

Question 21

Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere and the maximum precipitation in its Csa climate type falls in the month of ________.

A) January
B) March
C) June
D) September
E) December

Question 22

The lowercase letter symbolizing "moist, with no dry season" in the Köppen classification system is ________.

A) w
B) s
C) f
D) k
E) a

Question 23

Topic: Figure 8-11
Geog Standards: New Geog Standards 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
In tropical regions the "winter" season is merely the ________ period.

A) zodiac
B) low Sun
C) intertropical convergence
D) easterly wave
E) tropical cyclone

Question 24

A small island on the Equator would most likely be classified ________.

A) Aw
B) BS
C) Cfa
D) Af
E) Dfa

Question 25

Throughout the ET climates, ________ is/are very prevalent.

A) tornadoes
B) radiation fogs
C) winter rain
D) easterly waves
E) heat waves

Question 26

Deserts are arid; steppes are ________.

A) subtropical
B) semiarid
C) temperature
D) humid
E) adiabatic

Question 27

The tundra climate is bounded on its poleward side by the average annual ________°C isotherm.

A) 0
B) 20
C) 32
D) 40
E) 45

Question 28

In midlatitude desert (BWk) climates, the ________ temperature is greater than in subtropical desert (BWh) climates.

A) average annual
B) daily high
C) annual median
D) annual range of
E) daily low

Question 29

The classic marine west-coast climate is the ________.

A) Csa
B) Cfa
C) Cfb
D) Csb
E) Cwa

Question 30

With coastal climates isotherms tend to ________.

A) cross the coast at right angles
B) dip toward the Equator
C) parallel the coast
D) dip toward the poles
E) form a circular pattern

Question 31

The poleward limits of the Aw climate are approximately equivalent to

A) tropical coastlines.
B) limit of atoll formation.
C) average 0°C isotherm.
D) poleward maximum migration of the ITC.
E) average annual 15°C isotherm.

Question 32

In the Arctic, sea ice coverage

A) has remained unchanged for centuries.
B) has dramatically declined in recent decades.
C) has dramatically increased in recent decades.
D) has proved impossible to measure.
E) does not seem to be related to climate feedback loops.

Question 33

Mediterranean climates experience dry summers because of ________.

A) a double maximum of Sun elevation
B) the position of subtropical high pressure
C) the cool ocean currents
D) adjacent rain shadows
E) none of the above

Question 34

In the BS climatic types the "S" stands for ________.

A) steppe
B) seasonal
C) selva
D) savanna
E) semi-annual

Question 35

Topic: Figure 8-3
Geog Standards: New Geog Standards 4
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge
In Am climates, the hottest time of year is ________.

A) winter
B) summer
C) fall
D) spring
E) all of the above

Question 36

To the Greeks, their land fell within the ________ zone in their early classification of climate.

A) frigid
B) temperate
C) torrid
D) homeland
E) hinterland

Question 37

Usually, the Csa, Csb and ________ are west coast climates.

A) Cfa
B) Cfb
C) Dfa
D) Dfb
E) Dwd

Question 38

The modified Köppen climate classification as used in the textbook includes ________ major climate groups.

A) 3
B) 6
C) 8
D) 10
E) 15

Question 39

Looking at the world climate map, there are more square kilometers of A climates in ________ than in any other region.

A) Australia
B) Asia
C) Africa
D) South America
E) Antarctica

Question 40

The area most closely associated with D climates is ________.

A) Central America
B) Australia
C) Canada
D) Southern Africa
E) the Amazon basin

Question 41

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the midlatitude desert climate type?

A) colder than its tropical counterpart
B) far removed from oceanic moisture
C) blocked from oceanic moisture by mountains
D) found in Asia, North America, and South America
E) a winter maximum of precipitation

Question 42

The world's greatest annual average temperature range is in a Dfd climate in ________.

A) Yakutsk, Siberia
B) Narvik, Norway
C) the Hawaiian Islands
D) Nome, Alaska
E) Stillwater, Oklahoma

Question 43

Which of the following would be an expected average annual precipitation total in a marine west coast climate?

A) 10 centimeters
B) 100 centimeters
C) 1,000 centimeters
D) 10,000 centimeters
E) none of the above

Question 44

In the Df and Dw climates, winter precipitation mainly originates from ________.

A) midlatitude cyclones
B) orographic influences
C) large thunderstorms
D) the intertropical convergence
E) subtropical highs

Question 45

The greatest one-day range of temperature was recorded in a BWh climate in ________.

A) Denver
B) Algeria
C) Australia
D) Antarctica
E) India

Question 46

The climate classification used by the textbook is the

A) Köppen climate classification.
B) modified Köppen climate classification.
C) ancient Greek system.
D) modified Mercalli index.
E) bioclimatology index.

Question 47

The one-year record rainfall took place in a ________ climate type.

A) rainforest
B) monsoon
C) mediterranean
D) west coast marine
E) humid subtropical

Question 48

The largest amount of tropical wet climate is on the continent of ________.

A) Africa
B) Asia
C) South America
D) North America
E) Australia

Question 49

The Köppen system of climatic classification ________.

A) was the first numerical system
B) is widely used today
C) uses vegetation to determine climate boundaries
D) has been modified for use in your textbook
E) is correctly described by all of the above

Question 50

In the tropical humid climate, precipitation is mainly ________.

A) frontal
B) unreliable
C) convective
D) orographic
E) drizzle

Question 51

In what year did Köppen first publish his classification system?

A) 1492
B) 1760
C) 1850
D) 1918
E) 1971

Question 52

Which of the following climates does NOT have a summer wetter than its winter?

A) monsoon
B) humid subtropical
C) mediterranean
D) humid continental
E) subarctic

Question 53

The maximum poleward extent of Af climates is found ________.

A) in the Sahara desert
B) on east coasts of continents
C) in New Zealand
D) at the Equator
E) at the intertropical convergence

Question 54

A moulin is an opening into which meltwater seeps into an ice sheet.

Question 55

The world's record lowest average annual precipitation is on the continent of

A) North America.
B) Asia.
C) Australia.
D) South America.
E) Europe.

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of desert climates?

A) Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration.
B) Precipitation is scarce.
C) Precipitation is unreliable.
D) Precipitation is intense when it comes.
E) cold ocean currents cooling coastal zones

Question 57

Midlatitude deserts experience a ________ maximum in precipitation.

A) winter
B) summer
C) low Sun
D) steppe
E) none of the above

Question 58

Currently, ________ is rising, partly because of the melting of glaciers.

A) temperature
B) sea level
C) the sea bottom
D) the amount of sea ice
E) precipitation

Question 59

For many centuries before the present one, scholars believed that the world had ________ climatic zones.

A) 0
B) 1
C) 5
D) 10
E) 20

Question 60

The intertropical convergence zone is most closely associated with which of the Kppen system's major climate types?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 61

This desert is in a "double rain shadow".

A) Sahara
B) Kalahari
C) Atacama
D) Mojave
E) Saudi

Question 62

Subtropical deserts are so dry because of ________ associated with the presence of the STH's.

A) subsidence
B) instability
C) storminess
D) convergence
E) orographic effects

Question 63

"Night is winter" is best applied to the ________ climate.

A) Af
B) ET
C) BWk
D) Csa
E) Dfa

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a climate type found in South America?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) H

Question 65

Of the following temperatures, which of the following is CLOSEST to the official low temperature (in degrees Celsius) ever recorded on Earth?

A) 0
B) -10
C) -50
D) -90
E) -140

Question 66

City A and City B are located far apart at the same latitude. City A has a much greater annual temperature range than City B. The most likely explanation for this fact is that City A

A) is lower in elevation than City B.
B) has more moisture in the air than City B.
C) is cloudier than City B.
D) has more air pollution than City B.
E) is in a more continental climate than City B.

Question 67

The presence of the cold Humboldt current and the Andes Mountains help to create the coastal ________ Desert.

A) Sahara
B) Gobi
C) Sonoran
D) Atacama
E) none of the above

Question 68

Which of the following average annual precipitation totals is CLOSEST to that expected in an icecap climate?

A) < 25 cm
B) 100 cm
C) 200 cm
D) 500 cm
E) > 1,000 cm

Question 69

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the tropical humid climates?

A) The shortest daylengths are not much shorter than the longest daylengths.
B) The Sun is high in the sky every day of the year.
C) The intertropical convergence zone is rarely overhead.
D) Precipitation is plentiful over the year.
E) They experience warm temperatures all year long.

Question 70

"Continentality" is a term most closely associated with which climatic type?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) H

Question 71

In the tropical monsoonal climates, summer is NOT the warmest season because summer has ________.

A) position of the Sun in the sky
B) the presence of cool air masses
C) wind flow from the Arctic Ocean
D) increased cloudiness
E) greater evaporation from vegetation

Question 72

The ________ climatic type has, by far, the smallest annual temperature range of any climatic type.

A) ET
B) Dfa
C) BWh
D) Csa
E) Af

Question 73

Presently, the most widely used classification system was derived by ________.

A) the ancient Greeks
B) Norwegian meteorologists of the 20ᵗʰ century
C) The National Weather Service of the U.S.
D) C.W. Thornthwaite
E) Wladimir Köppen

Question 74

The single most descriptive word that can be applied to tropical wet climates is

A) "variability".
B) "seasonality".
C) "comfortable".
D) "invigorating".
E) "monotonous".

Question 75

Which of the following has the LEAST average annual precipitation?

A) Af
B) Aw
C) Am
D) EF
E) BSk

Question 76

The Greek classification of climate included

A) the torrid zone.
B) the temperate zone.
C) the frigid zone.
D) all of the above.
E) none of the above.

Question 77

The BWh climate is "caused" by the

A) subtropical highs.
B) trade winds.
C) westerlies.
D) warm ocean currents.
E) none of the above.

Question 78

In terms of general location of a climate, in what place would one expect to find a humid continental climate in the U.S.?

A) the southwest (Phoenix, Arizona)
B) the northwest (Seattle, Washington)
C) the southeast (Atlanta, Georgia)
D) the Great Lakes (Buffalo, New York)
E) south central (Dallas, Texas)

Question 79

The world record highest one-day rainfall is ________ centimeters (2.54 centimeters = 1 inch).

A) 7
B) 53
C) 188
D) 767
E) 3,105

Question 80

The B climates are dry most usually because of lack of ________.

A) uplift in the air
B) solar energy
C) moisture in the air
D) high altitude
E) occurrence near the polar front