Blizzards happen in the U.S. Northern Plains states, in eastern and central Canada, and in parts of Russia.
The blizzards occur:
a) because these places are far from the Arctic Circle
b) because these places are near the Arctic Circle
c) because these places are south of the Equator
d) because these places are near Antarctica.
What do you think? I'll be glad to check your answer.
The correct answer is b) because these places are near the Arctic Circle.
Blizzards occur in the U.S. Northern Plains states, eastern and central Canada, and parts of Russia because these regions are located in close proximity to the Arctic Circle. The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line that circles the Earth near the North Pole. It marks the southernmost point where the sun can stay continuously below or above the horizon for 24 hours during the winter or summer solstice respectively.
When blizzards occur, they are typically caused by cold air masses moving from the polar regions towards these areas. As the cold air interacts with warmer air, it creates instability in the atmosphere, leading to the development of intense snowstorms, strong winds, and reduced visibility. The proximity to the Arctic Circle means that these regions are more susceptible to cold, polar air masses, which increases the likelihood of blizzard conditions occurring.
In contrast, the other options are not accurate explanations for why blizzards occur in these particular regions. The places are not far from the Arctic Circle because their proximity contributes to the colder conditions that favor the formation of blizzards. These places are also not south of the Equator or near Antarctica, which are both geographically separate regions that have different climatic patterns and thus are not directly responsible for the occurrence of blizzards in the U.S. Northern Plains states, eastern and central Canada, and parts of Russia.