ESS Regents Review 2026

The equator gets more direct ___ than the poles

sunlight

The uneven heating of earth creates ___,___,___,___

global circulation, wind belts, ocean currents, and climate zones

direct rays =

more heating

at the equator warm moist air ___, which causes ___ which then causes ___

rises, low pressure, clouds and rain

At 30^o N/S, dry air ___, which causes, ___, which then makes ___ and ___

sinks, high pressure, deserts and calm winds

Moving air and water curve because ___

earth rotates (coriolis effect)

in the northern hemisphere, winds curve ___, lows rotate ___/___, and highs rotate ___/___

right, inward/counterclockwise, outwards/clockwise

warm currents move heat ___

poleward/towards poles

cold currents move cooler water ___

towards equator

freshwater from melting glaciers can ___ density-driven ocean currents

weaken

long term weather + climate trends prove ___

climate change

air masses are classified by ___ and ___

temperature and moisture

cold fronts force warm air ___ quickly, often causing ___

up, thunderstorms

warm fronts lift air ___, causing longer, steadier ___

gently, precipitation

when temperature and dew point are very close…

high humidity - saturated air, clouds, likely precipitation

on a weather model, there are two full barbs and one half. what’s the wind speed?

25 mph

two common greenhouse gases:

carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄)

greenhouse gases absorb outgoing ___

infrared radiation

more greenhouse gases = less… = …

heat escaping into space = warming climate

there is an ___ trend in carbon dioxide

upward

positive feedbacks mean there is ___ change

negative/bad

positive feedback: global warming causes ___ which lowers ___, which also increases global warming

melting of glaciers, albedo (reflection)

negative feedback loops ___ change

reduce

negative feedback: more plant ___ may temporarily ___ extra carbon dioxide

growth, removes

carbon dioxide dissolving into ___ forms ___

ocean water, carbonic acid

carbonic acid lowers ___ and ___ carbonic ions

pH and reduces

earth’s ___ and ___ change over long timescales

orbit and tilt

a lower ___ can reduce polar summer energy, allowing more ___ to form

tilt, ice

eccentricity =

orbit shape

obliquity =

tilt angle

precession =

wobble

fusion occurs in the ___ core

sun’s

hydrogen fuses into ___ and releases ___

helium, energy

energy moves ___ through solar ___ and it is released from the ___

outward, layers, photosphere

stars are classified through what 4 things?

temperature, color, brightness, and stage

as the sun becomes a main sequence star: surface temps ___ and brightness ___

decrease, increase

stars make heavier elements through ___

fusion

early stars contained ___ and ___

hydrogen and helium

elements heavier than iron form during ___

supernova explosions

big bang evidence:

• cosmic …

• red…

• hub…

• abundance of light elements like ___ and ___

• cosmic microwave background radiation

• redshift in galxies

• Hubble’s law

• hydrogen and helium

farther galaxies move away ___, showing the universe is ___

faster, expanding