How does the Gulf Stream affect the coasts of the United States and England?
a
The Gulf Stream creates high wave action.
b
The Gulf Stream promotes more upwelling.
c
The Gulf Stream creates greater temperature extremes.
d
The Gulf Stream promotes milder temperatures.
d. The Gulf Stream promotes milder temperatures.
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows northward along the eastern coast of the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean towards Europe. As it moves, it warms up the coastal areas, making the climate milder and more humid. This effect is especially noticeable in the winter months when the Gulf Stream can prevent coastal areas from experiencing the extreme cold that would otherwise be expected at their latitude. In addition, the Gulf Stream also affects weather patterns and marine ecosystems along its path.
Read the passage about flying on an airplane.
Flying on an airplane can be very exciting. The speed of an airplane allows passengers to travel quickly. Many airplanes fly in the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs. Weather in this layer can cause the air to feel bumpy and the plane will experience turbulence.
Which layer of the atmosphere is being described in the passage?
a
the mesosphere
b
the stratosphere
c
the thermosphere
d
the troposphere
d. The troposphere.
The passage mentions that many airplanes fly in the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs, and where the air can feel bumpy and the plane can experience turbulence. This layer is the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere and the one in which we live and breathe. The troposphere extends from the Earth's surface up to about 7-20 kilometers (4-12 miles) depending on location.
Ozone is found in the troposphere and in the stratosphere. These two layers are closest to Earth as shown in the diagram below.
Which statement correctly compares the ozone found in the troposphere to the ozone found in the stratosphere?
a
Ozone found in the troposphere filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation, while ozone In the stratosphere is considered to be a pollutant with negative health effects.
b
Ozone in the troposphere is considered to be a pollutant with negative health effects, while ozone found in the stratosphere filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation.
c
Ozone found in both the troposphere and the stratosphere is considered to be a pollutant with negative health effects.
d
Ozone found in both the troposphere and the stratosphere filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation.
b. Ozone in the troposphere is considered to be a pollutant with negative health effects, while ozone found in the stratosphere filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone in the troposphere is formed by chemical reactions between pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. This can lead to the formation of smog and other harmful air pollutants that can negatively affect human health and the environment. Ozone in the stratosphere, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring gas that is beneficial to life on Earth. It absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun, providing a protective layer for the planet.
Which biome has a permanently frozen layer of soil called permafrost?
a
taiga This is the result of incorrectly thinking the taiga biome has permanently frozen soil.
b
grassland This is the result of incorrectly thinking grasslands have permanently frozen soil.
c
tundra This is correct. The tundra is a biome located in high latitudes that has permafrost.
d
savanna This is the result of incorrectly thinking savannas have permanently frozen soil.
c. tundra.
The tundra biome, located in the far northern latitudes of the Earth, has a layer of soil that is permanently frozen called permafrost. The permafrost layer is typically several feet thick and prevents trees and large plants from growing, leading to a unique and fragile ecosystem characterized by low-growing vegetation, cold-adapted animals, and harsh environmental conditions.
Question 8 (1 point)
A tropical rain forest can meet the needs of many plants, animals, insects, and birds because temperatures are warm all year, and there is a lot of rainfall.
True
False
True.
Tropical rainforests are known for their warm, humid climate and high levels of rainfall, which create ideal conditions for a diverse range of plant and animal life. With temperatures remaining relatively constant throughout the year and rain falling frequently, rainforests support a complex web of species that depend on each other for survival.
Question 9 (1 point)
What is a narrow band of strong winds that blows from west to east?
a
a cold front
b
a Hadley cell
c
a jet stream
d
a trade wind
c. a jet stream.
A jet stream is a narrow band of strong, high-altitude winds that blow from west to east in the Earth's atmosphere. These winds are caused by differences in air pressure and temperature between the polar and tropical regions, and can have a significant impact on weather patterns and air travel. Jet streams can often be seen as long, ribbon-like clouds stretching across the sky.
A student visiting a beach is curious why, on a sunny day, the air, sand, and water all feel like they are different temperatures. The student obtains three thermometers to take temperature measurements of the air, sand, and water. The student places a floating thermometer in the water for 15 minutes and records the temperature. Next, the student stands on the beach with a hand-held thermometer for 15 minutes to record the temperature of the air. The student needs to take the temperature of the sand, but is unsure where to place the third thermometer.
Which answer choice below describes the best location to accurately measure the temperature of the sand?
a
The student should place the thermometer just under the sand, close to the water's edge. This is the result of a correct assessment of the experiment's needs. In order to obtain the most accurate temperature measurement, the thermometer should be buried in the sand.
b
The student should place the thermometer in the sand under the water where the temperature of the water was measured. This is the result of an incorrect assessment of the needs of the experiment. Taking the temperature of the sand in this location would result in a measurement that is affected by the temperature of the water covering the sand.
c
The student should lay the thermometer on top of the sand where the water and sand meet. This is the result of an incorrect assessment of the needs of the experiment. The temperature measurement resulting from this action would be affected by the temperatures of both the water and the air.
d
The student should hold the thermometer close to the sand near the edge of the water. This answer choice is the result of an incorrect assessment of the needs of the experiment. Taking the temperature in this manner would produce a second air temperature measurement.
a. The student should place the thermometer just under the sand, close to the water's edge.
In order to obtain an accurate temperature measurement of the sand, the thermometer should be placed just under the surface of the sand, close to the water's edge. This ensures that the thermometer is measuring the temperature of the sand itself and not the air temperature or the temperature of the water covering the sand.
The diagram shows the layers of the atmosphere.
In which two layers of the atmosphere does temperature increase as altitude increases?
a
the troposphere and mesosphere
b
the mesosphere and stratosphere
c
the thermosphere and troposphere
d
the stratosphere and thermosphere
d. The stratosphere and thermosphere.
The stratosphere and thermosphere are the layers of the atmosphere in which temperature increases with altitude. In the stratosphere, this is due to the presence of the ozone layer which absorbs energy from the sun, while in the thermosphere temperatures increase as the molecules and atoms in this thin layer are heated by solar radiation. The other two layers, the troposphere and mesosphere, have decreasing temperatures with increasing altitude.
The primary source of energy that drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans is thermal energy from the Sun.
True
False
True.
The primary source of energy that drives convection within the atmosphere and oceans is thermal energy from the Sun. Solar radiation heats the Earth's surface unevenly, causing temperature and pressure differences that drive the movement of air and water in the atmosphere and oceans. This movement of fluids is called convection and plays a key role in shaping weather patterns and ocean currents.