Ch 21: Study Guide Thinking Visually: Identifying Causes and Effects 1. 2. 3. Colder Climate High elevation/Mountains Global Warming 4. Rise in sea level 5. Short-term lower temperatures 6. More moderate climate Reviewing Content Choose the letter that best answers the question or completes the statement. 1. _____ a. b. c. d. Which of the following is true? Climates at high latitudes are very warm. A nearby lake causes a climate to be colder. Vegetation can increase the amount of precipitation that falls over an area. Places at lower elevations generally have lower temperatures. 2. _____ Humid tropical climates always experience a. severe winters. b. dry summers. c. low humidity. d. warm temperatures. 3. _____ In a dry climate, yearly precipitation is a. less than the rate of evaporation. b. greater than the rate of evaporation. c. greater in a desert than a steppe. d. less than that in a polar climate. 4. _____ a. b. c. d. The greenhouse effect is best described as an increase in Earth’s surface temperature. a natural warming effect of the atmosphere. a result of global warming. any short-term change in climate. 5. _____ a. b. c. d. Recent global warming appears to be the result of changes in global wind patterns. a decrease in the greenhouse effect. increases in greenhouse gases in the air. changes in Earth’s revolution around the sun. 6. _____ Melting ice caps can result in which of the following? a. a rise in sea level b. a fall in sea level c. colder temperatures d. less precipitation Understanding Concepts 7. What powers Earth’s climate system? The Earth’s climate is powered by the sun. The climate system is a complex exchange of energy and moisture among Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. 8. Why can two places at the same latitude have different climates? Proximity to bodies of water and the amount of vegetation in a given area. 9. What climate data are needed in order to classify a climate using the Köppen climate classification system? Mean monthly and annual values of temperature and precipitation. 10. Describe the characteristics of a wet tropical climate. High temperatures and year round precipitation. 11. Explain the greenhouse effect caused by Earth’s atmosphere. Natural warming of Earth’s lower atmosphere and its surface. This is caused by complex reactions between gases and particles in the air. Heat trapping gases absorb solar energy and are heated. These gases then send energy back into space or radiate it towards the Earth to warm it. 12. How have humans contributed to the increase in the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Burning fossil fuels and clearing forests have contributed to increased levels in carbon dioxide in the air. 13. What is global warming? An increase in Earth’s average surface temperature over time. 14. How might global warming affect global precipitation? Warmer surface temperatures will increase evaporation rates, which will put more water vapor into the atmosphere. Water vapor is a powerful absorber of radiation emitted by Earth and will magnify the effect of carbon dioxide and other gases. Temp increase will cause sea ice to melt, causing more solar energy to be absorbed by the surface. This will then magnify the increase in temperatures, causing higher levels of greenhouse gases. Using Graphs Use the graph below to answer Questions 15 - 19 15. What is the highest average annual temperature, and during which month does it occur? The highest annual temperature is roughly 26 degrees Celsius, which occurs during the month of July. 16. What is the lowest annual temperature, and during which month does it occur? The lowest annual temperature is roughly 0 degrees Celsius, which occurs during the month of January. 17. What is the average annual temperature range for St. Louis? The range is 0 degrees Celsius to 26 degrees Celsius 18. What is the wettest season of the year in St. Louis? The wettest season of the year is St. Louis is late winter or early spring. 19. Classify the climate of St. Louis using the Köppen climate classification system. The climate of St. Louis using the Köppen system is humid subtropical. Using Graphs Choose the letter that best answers the question or completes the statement. 20. Earth’s temperatures were similar to the temperatures on our planet today a. about 150,000 years ago. c. about 50,000 years ago. b. about 135,000 years ago. d. about 25,000 years ago. 21. When do you think Earth was covered with more ice than is on our planet today? a. between 150,000 and 140,000 years ago b. between 140,000 and 120,000 years ago c. between 135,000 and 20,000 years ago d. between 20,000 and 10,000 years ago