Question 1

​At low elevations near the equator, high temperatures and abundant yearly rainfall combine to produce a dense, broadleaf, evergreen forest called a ____________________.

Accepted Answer

tropical rainforest​

Question 2

Landmasses heat up and cool off more quickly than do large bodies of water.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

Explain how the American climatologist, C. Warren Thornthwaite, devised a classification system to correct some of the deficiencies in the Köppen classification system.

Accepted Answer

Answers will vary, but should address the following:
To correct some of the Köppen deficiencies, the American climatologist C. Warren Thornthwaite devised a new classification system in the early 1930s. Both systems utilized temperature and precipitation measurements and both related natural vegetation to climate. However, to emphasize the importance of precipitation (P) and evaporation (E) on plant growth, Thornthwaite developed a P/E ratio, which is essentially monthly precipitation divided by monthly evaporation. The annual sum of the P/E ratios gives the P/E index. Using this index, the Thornthwaite system defines five major humidity provinces and their characteristic vegetation: rainforest, forest, grassland, steppe, and desert. To better describe the moisture available for plant growth, Thornthwaite proposed a new classification system in 1948 and slightly revised it in 1955. His new scheme emphasized the concept of potential evapotranspiration (PE), which is the amount of moisture that would be lost from the soil and vegetation if the moisture were available.

Question 4

​Mountain ranges disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation by promoting convection and by forcing ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   ​evaporation
B)   ​conduction
C)   ​orographic uplift
D)   ​air to rise along their leeward slopes
E)   ​air to rise along their eastern slopes

Question 5

​The lowest average temperatures in the world occur in ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   ​North America
B)   ​Northwestern Europe
C)   ​the Arctic
D)   ​the Antarctic
E)   ​Northern Siberia

Question 6

​The extreme summer aridity of the ____________________ climate, which in California may exist for five months, is caused by the sinking air of the subtropical highs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​The extreme summer aridity of the ____________________...

Question 7

During much of the year, ____ climates are characterized by low clouds, fog, and drizzle.​

Accepted Answer

A)   ​marine
B)   ​tropical wet
C)   ​tropical wet-and-dry
D)   ​Mediterranean
E)   ​highland

Question 8

​The Köppen system implies that there is a gradual transition between climatic zones, when in reality there is a sharp boundary.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A region on the leeward side of a mountain where precipitation is noticeably less is called a ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A region on the leeward side of...

Question 10

​Over much of western Europe, prevailing westerly winds are unobstructed by high mountains, so ocean air often sweeps across the region, providing it with a ____________________ climate (Cfb).

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Over much of western Europe, prevailing westerly...

Question 11

​As air rises along the windward side of a mountain, precipitation amounts usually ____________________ the higher you go.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​As air rises along the windward side...

Question 12

​Which climate type extends northward and southward from the equator to about latitude 15° to 25°?

Accepted Answer

A)   ​tropical moist climates (A climates) 
B)   ​dry climates (B climates) 
C)   ​moist mid-latitude climates with mild winters (C climates) 
D)   ​moist mid-latitude climates with severe winters (D climates) 
E)   ​polar climates (E climates)

Question 13

Explain how mountains disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation, and how rain shadows are created.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain how mountains disrupt the idealized pattern...

Question 14

​In which tropical climate does the high humidity and cloud cover prevent the maximum temperatures from reaching extremely high values?

Accepted Answer

A)   ​tropical monsoon (Am) 
B)   ​dry-summer subtropical (Cs) 
C)   ​tropical wet and dry (Aw) 
D)   ​humid subtropical (Cfa) 
E)   ​tropical wet (Af)

Question 15

​The Köppen scheme for classifying climates employs annual and monthly averages of ____.

Accepted Answer

A)   ​temperature and precipitation
B)   ​precipitation and stream runoff
C)   ​ocean levels and surface pressure
D)   ​population density and agricultural output
E)   ​sunshine and soil type

Question 16

​Across the world, locations at the same longitude receive nearly the same amount of solar energy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

​What type of climate would you likely encounter as you traveled from a marine climate equatorward along a coastline? Where is an example of this climate type in North America?

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​What type of climate would you likely...

Question 18

​Because a much greater extreme in daily air temperatures exists near the ground than several feet above, the ____________________ for small plants is far more harsh than the thermometer in an instrument shelter would indicate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Because a much greater extreme in daily...

Question 19

​In spite of the long hours of daylight in polar regions, why are summers are quite cool?

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​In spite of the long hours of...

Question 20

​Explain the climatic controls that make the southern and northern desert regions of North America dry.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Explain the climatic controls that make the...

Exam 17: Earths Changing Climate

​At low elevations near the equator, high temperatures and abundant yearly rainfall combine to produce a dense, broadleaf, evergreen forest called a ____________________.

Landmasses heat up and cool off more quickly than do large bodies of water.

Explain how the American climatologist, C. Warren Thornthwaite, devised a classification system to correct some of the deficiencies in the Köppen classification system.

​Mountain ranges disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation by promoting convection and by forcing ____.

​The lowest average temperatures in the world occur in ____.

​The extreme summer aridity of the ____________________ climate, which in California may exist for five months, is caused by the sinking air of the subtropical highs.

During much of the year, ____ climates are characterized by low clouds, fog, and drizzle.​

​The Köppen system implies that there is a gradual transition between climatic zones, when in reality there is a sharp boundary.

A region on the leeward side of a mountain where precipitation is noticeably less is called a ____________________.

​Over much of western Europe, prevailing westerly winds are unobstructed by high mountains, so ocean air often sweeps across the region, providing it with a ____________________ climate (Cfb).

​As air rises along the windward side of a mountain, precipitation amounts usually ____________________ the higher you go.

​Which climate type extends northward and southward from the equator to about latitude 15° to 25°?

Explain how mountains disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation, and how rain shadows are created.​

​In which tropical climate does the high humidity and cloud cover prevent the maximum temperatures from reaching extremely high values?

​The Köppen scheme for classifying climates employs annual and monthly averages of ____.

​Across the world, locations at the same longitude receive nearly the same amount of solar energy.

​What type of climate would you likely encounter as you traveled from a marine climate equatorward along a coastline? Where is an example of this climate type in North America?

​Because a much greater extreme in daily air temperatures exists near the ground than several feet above, the ____________________ for small plants is far more harsh than the thermometer in an instrument shelter would indicate.

​In spite of the long hours of daylight in polar regions, why are summers are quite cool?

​Explain the climatic controls that make the southern and northern desert regions of North America dry.

At low elevations near the equator, high temperatures and abundant yearly rainfall combine to produce a dense, broadleaf, evergreen forest called a ____________________.

Mountain ranges disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation by promoting convection and by forcing ____.

The lowest average temperatures in the world occur in ____.

The extreme summer aridity of the ____________________ climate, which in California may exist for five months, is caused by the sinking air of the subtropical highs.

During much of the year, ____ climates are characterized by low clouds, fog, and drizzle.

The Köppen system implies that there is a gradual transition between climatic zones, when in reality there is a sharp boundary.

Over much of western Europe, prevailing westerly winds are unobstructed by high mountains, so ocean air often sweeps across the region, providing it with a ____________________ climate (Cfb).

As air rises along the windward side of a mountain, precipitation amounts usually ____________________ the higher you go.

Which climate type extends northward and southward from the equator to about latitude 15° to 25°?

Explain how mountains disrupt the idealized pattern of global precipitation, and how rain shadows are created.

In which tropical climate does the high humidity and cloud cover prevent the maximum temperatures from reaching extremely high values?

The Köppen scheme for classifying climates employs annual and monthly averages of ____.

Across the world, locations at the same longitude receive nearly the same amount of solar energy.

What type of climate would you likely encounter as you traveled from a marine climate equatorward along a coastline? Where is an example of this climate type in North America?

Because a much greater extreme in daily air temperatures exists near the ground than several feet above, the ____________________ for small plants is far more harsh than the thermometer in an instrument shelter would indicate.

In spite of the long hours of daylight in polar regions, why are summers are quite cool?

Explain the climatic controls that make the southern and northern desert regions of North America dry.