Cultural Geography Chapter 3

T or F. The sun's energy is always in motion, even after it reaches the earth's atmosphere.

True

T or F. The earth's rotation and revolution are equally noticeable to people on the earth.

False

T or F. Polar regions receive only a small amount of sunlight in winter.

True

T or F. Wind belts combine with the Coriolis effect to help explain the basic movement of thermal energy around the earth.

True

T or F. Longitude plays a role in establishing climate.

False

T or F. The earth rotates on its axis at 23 1/2" and turns 480 degrees every twenty-four hours.

False

T or F. A sudden rise in temperature causes water vapor to lose energy and fall to the earth as sleet or hail.

False

T or F. Water from precipitation stays on the earth's surface for only a brief time.

True

T or F. The coast of Chile is a tropical rainforest because the cold Peru Current flows nearby.

False

T or F. The slowest ocean currents are called drifts.

True

The movement of warm and cold air masses, combined with what, explains the basic movement of thermal energy around the earth?

Coriolis effect

The earth's movement on its axis every twenty-four hours is known as what?

Rotation

The envelope of gases that surrounds the earth and is held in place by the planet's gravity is called what?

atmosphere

What is composed of the sun, planets, small solar system bodies, and other objects around the sun by the sun's gravity?

solar system

What is any large region where distinct populations of plants and animals are found living together?

biome

What term is used for a large area of moving air that has a similar temperature throughout?

air mass

What term is used for the area on the side of mountains where little rain falls because little water vapor survives crossing over the mountains?

rain shadow

Which solstice occurs on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere?

summer

What is the process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation called?

hydrologic cycle

The at which water vapor begins condensation is called what?

dew point

The effect of the earth's being "yanked" out from under the wind is called the

Coriolis effect

Hot prevailing winds that blow in the Tropics are called the

trade winds

Which of the following is not one of the three basic biomes: forests, grasslands, wastelands, or wetlands?

wetlands

The point at which the sun reaches its greatest angular distance from the equator is called the

solstice

The point at which the length of day and night are approximately equal all over the planet from an instant is known as the

equinox

The most obvious motion of the earth is called

rotation

The area between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn is called the

Tropics

All of the following (Coriolis, tropics, Temperate, and polar) are latitude zones except

Coriolis

All of the following (wind, jet stream, atmospheric pressure, and humidity) are elements of weather except

jet stream

This element of weather is the movement of air caused by the heating and cooling if air masses.

wind

The weight of gases in the atmosphere on a surface area is known as

atmospheric pressure

Essay: List and explain the steps in the hydrologic cycle

p.51

Essay: Explain the difference between weather and climate.

p.54

Latitude zone that receives only a small amount of sunlight in winter

polar region

the 23 1/2 degree angle on which the earth rotates

axis

Sun, planets, and smaller system bodies

solar system

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth

atmosphere

latitude zone that consistently has very warm temperature

tropics

an indication of the amount of thermal energy in the air

temperature

Event when the sun reaches its greatest angular distance from the equator

solstice

Event when the length of day and night are approximately equal all over the planet

equinox

latitude zone that receives neither constant warmth nor extreme cold

Temperate

The condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place

weather

Any large region where distinct populations of plants and animals are found living together

biome

The land beyond the mountains that usually remains dry because little water vapor survives the trip over the mountains

rain shadow

rain, sleet, or snow resulting from contact with mountains

orographic

Line where warm and cold air masses meet

front

Water droplets falling to the earth

precipitation

Average weather in an area over an extended length of time

climate