Vocabulary
A steady stream-like flow of air or water in a given direction is a
current
The process in which water vapor changes to water droplets is called
condensation
What is the Coriolis effect?
when winds blowing north from the equator appear to move east
RANDOM
Irregular lumps of ice that fall from clouds (often during thunderstorms) are known as what?
hail stones
What is the origin of most of the Earth's energy that is used to drive the water cycle?
A. air masses
B. climate
C. the sun
D. upwelling
C. the sun
The temperature gradually increases as you drive from northern to southern California, this is called
thermal gradient
Energy that travels through space from the sun to Earth as waves is called
solar radiation
RANDOM
Can it rain fish?
yes
RANDOM
True or false? A rainbow is a spectrum of light that appears when the Sun shines onto water droplets in the air.
True
In which form does most of the sun's energy reach Earth?
A. heat
B. light
C. oxygen
D. temperature
B. light
The boundary between two air masses that collide is a
front
The force of molecules of air pressing down on a certain area on Earth is
air pressure
RANDOM
What is a thermometer used to measure?
temperature; weather
RANDOM
True or false? You see lightning and hear thunder.
true
What is the approximate percentage of solar radiation that is absorbed by Earth's landforms and oceans?
A. 10
B. 25
C. 50
D. 100
C. 50
The average of all the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time is the region’s
climate
A circular current that flows the opposite way of the general current is a(n)
eddy
A tropical maritime air mass will probably bring what type of weather to an area?
A. cold, wet weather
B. cold, dry weather
C. warm, wet weather
D. warm, dry weather
C. warm, wet weather
Which process of heat transfer moves most of Earth’s heat from its interior to its surface?
convection
Which area of the Earth receives energy from the sun from directly overhead at a 90 degree angle to the surface?
A. Alaska
B. the equator
C. the North Pole
D. the South Pole
B. the equator
Winds blowing north from the equator appear to move to the east because of the
Coriolis effect
An air mass that forms over water is called a(n) ______________ air mass.
maritime
Which two types of air masses greatly affect the weather of California?
maritime tropical and maritime polar
Which current picks up cold water near the North Pole and then flows south along the western coast of Canada and the United States?
California Current
What is a front?
the boundary between two air masses