Currents
Which of these properties of water helps moderate the weather of coastal areas?
high specific heat
Hurricanes are driven by the energy they get from ocean water. Which property of water allows it to retain the energy needed to power a hurricane?
high specific heat
Which property of water vapor allows it to function as a greenhouse gas?
Water vapor absorbs and reemits heat radiated from Earth.
In the hydrologic cycle, which process contributes to a decrease in groundwater levels?
Evaporation
What will most likely happen if a warm ocean current travels north or south from the equator?
The current will become cooler, causing it to become more dense and sink.
Which will cause an increase in runoff and infiltration in an area?
Excessive rain
Both southern California and southern Nevada are arid to semi-arid regions. Which of these has a large influence on the climate in southern California but has little influence on the climate in southern Nevada?
proximity to the ocean
Some scientists predict that as greenhouse gases change the climate of Earth, the number and strength of hurricanes will increase. In order for this to occur, the climate change would have to affect Earth by changing the?
surface temperatures in the oceans.
Which is one way surface water may become groundwater?
infiltration
Because water can hold a large amount of heat, which effect do oceans have on nearby land areas?
They prevent rapid extreme temperature changes.
In the centers of North America and Asia, large regions of land have relatively dry climates. This lack of rainfall results mainly from which factor?
The distance from oceans prevents moist air from reaching the centers of these continents.
Which statement describes MOST groundwater?
Groundwater is found in underground lakes, rivers, and streams.
The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current in the North Atlantic that flows from the Gulf of Mexico, northeast along the U.S. coast, and from there to the British Isles. The Gulf Stream has a strong effect on the climate pattern in the British Isles?
Summer in Great Britain is warmer and wetter than other places of similar latitude.
Without oceans, the temperatures of Earth would vary widely from temperatures that currently exist. Which characteristic of the ocean MOST likely helps to maintain the temperatures of Earth?
evaporation of ocean water
Nevada’s annual precipitation averages between 21 and 24 cm. In comparison, Washington state averages between 96 and 97 cm of precipitation per year. Which of these factors has the greatest impact on the difference in precipitation between these two states?
the location of each state on the continent
Because water is able to exist in the liquid phase on Earth, water helps to moderate temperatures across the entire planet. Which statement BEST illustrates this link between water in the liquid phase and moderation of temperatures?
Ocean currents circulate heat away from the equator.
The climate of an area would be expected to have the LEAST fluctuations in temperatures where the?
humidity is high.