Seasons and Sunlight
Earth has seasons mainly because
Earth's axis is tilted
What does dew point tell us?
How much water is in the air. Humidity.
A cloud on the ground is called ________.
fog
A front is the boundary between two different ________.
air masses
A hurricane must have wind speeds of at least ________ mph.
74 mph
True or false: Summer in the Northern Hemisphere happens because Earth is closer to the Sun.
False
A high dew point means the air feels more ________.
humid
Tall storm clouds that can produce thunderstorms are called ________ clouds.
cumulonimbus
At a cold front, which air mass goes under the other one?
The cold air mass.
The calm center of a hurricane is called the ________.
eye
During which time of year is the sun up the longest amount of time in the northern hemisphere?
What is summer?
A dew point of 72°F would most likely feel dry, comfortable, or very humid?
Very humid
High, thin, icy clouds that can appear before a change in weather are called ________ clouds.
cirrus
Which front is more likely to bring steady rain over a wider area: cold front or warm front?
Warm front.
The strongest winds and heaviest rain in a hurricane are usually found in the ________.
eyewall
Why is Northern Hemisphere summer warmer than winter?
The Sun is higher in the sky, sunlight is more direct, and daylight lasts longer.
A weather graph shows dew point dropping from 65°F to 38°F. What kind of air mass probably moved in?
A drier air mass (continental polar), likely behind a cold front.
Flat, gray clouds that can bring cloudy weather or steady drizzle are called ________ clouds.
stratus
Why do cold fronts often cause stronger storms than warm fronts?
Cold air forces warm air upward quickly, which can form tall storm clouds and thunderstorms.
A hurricane moves over cooler ocean water. What will most likely happen to the storm?
It will weaken because cooler water provides less heat and moisture.
Earth is actually closest to the Sun in early January. Why is it still winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
Because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, so it gets shorter days and less direct sunlight.
A day starts warm and humid, then storms pass through, and the dew point drops sharply. What weather event most likely passed through?
A cold front
Explain how rising air can lead to cloud formation.
Rising air expands and cools. If it cools to the dew point, water vapor condenses into cloud droplets.
After a cold front passes, the weather is often cooler and the dew point is usually ________.
lower
Name three conditions hurricanes need to strengthen.
Warm ocean water, moist rising air, low wind shear, and enough Coriolis effect. Any three are acceptable.