Unit Test - Weather and Climate
ESS.7.1 Summative Assessment
Learning Objectives
Differentiate between weather and climate using time scale and examples.
Describe the composition and layers of Earth's atmosphere and explain how the atmosphere protects life.
Model the water cycle and explain how the Sun's energy and gravity drive water through Earth's systems.
Explain how air masses, fronts, and pressure systems interact to produce weather conditions.
Interpret weather maps, satellite imagery, and radar to predict weather conditions.
Explain how convection, global wind patterns, and the jet stream influence weather and climate.
Identify Earth's major climate zones and explain factors that cause regional climate differences.
Weather vs. Climate
How do weather and climate differ from each other?
What is the minimum time period scientists use to define a region's climate?
Charlotte had thunderstorms yesterday but sunshine today. Does this describe weather or climate?
Earth's Atmosphere
Which gas makes up the largest percentage of Earth's atmosphere?
About what percentage of Earth's atmosphere is made up of oxygen?
All of Earth's weather takes place in which atmospheric layer?
What does the ozone layer in the stratosphere shield Earth from?
How does the atmosphere keep Earth warm enough to support life?
Water Cycle, Humidity, and Cloud Formation
What is the primary energy source that drives evaporation in the water cycle?
Which force is responsible for pulling precipitation and runoff downward to Earth's surface?
What term describes the process in which liquid water changes into water vapor?
When water vapor cools and changes into liquid droplets, what is this process called?
What forms when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses onto tiny particles?
What does the term humidity measure?
What does relative humidity tell you about the air?
At what temperature does air become fully saturated so that water vapor begins to condense?
How does air temperature affect the amount of moisture air can hold?
Which cloud type is vertically tall and most closely associated with thunderstorms?
Air Masses, Fronts, and Pressure Systems
What is an air mass?
Air masses are classified using two characteristics. What are they?
In weather science, what is a front?
What kind of weather does a cold front typically bring?
What weather conditions are most associated with an approaching warm front?
What occurs along a stationary front?
What happens during the formation of an occluded front?
What does barometric pressure measure?
What weather conditions are produced by a low pressure system?
What weather conditions does a high pressure system typically produce?
In which direction does wind blow relative to areas of high and low pressure?
Weather Maps and Technology
On a weather map, what does an isobar represent?
If isobars on a weather map are packed closely together, what does that indicate?
On a weather map, what do the letters H and L indicate?
Across the United States, weather systems generally travel in which direction?
Which technology do meteorologists use to detect the intensity and movement of precipitation?
Convection, Global Winds, and the Jet Stream
What is atmospheric convection?
How does the Coriolis effect influence winds in the Northern Hemisphere?
Which global wind belt has the greatest influence on weather in the United States?
What role does the jet stream play in North American weather?
Climate Zones
What is the single most important factor in determining whether a region falls in the tropical, temperate, or polar climate zone?
Which climate classification best describes Charlotte, North Carolina?