Earth science midterms

1 The photograph below shows three different pebbles that have been transported for different amounts of time in a stream.

The erosional process that has shaped these pebbles over time is

(2) abrasion, which causes more rounding

Which atmospheric gas is important because it protects living things on Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation?

B.Ozone

EI Niño conditions occur with a buildup of warm water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America. The immediate cause of this buildup is a change in air pressure that weakens the southern trade winds. These are the planetary winds that move air from 30° S to the equator. Normally, these strong, steady winds, with the help of their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere, push equatorial water westward away from South America. But, at intervals of two to seven years, these winds weaken, causing the westward water flow to reverse. This results in an accumulation of unusually warm water on the east side of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warm water not only changes the characteristics of the air above it, but also is thought to be the cause of weather changes around the world. EI Niño conditions may last only a few months, but often last a year or two.

. Equatorial Pacific trade winds weaken during EI Niño conditions when air pressure

(C) rises in the western Pacific and falls in the eastern Pacific

The block diagram below shows a portion of a meandering stream. Points A, B, C, and D are locations on the streambed. The arrows show the direction of stream flow.

At which location is the greatest amount of deposition most likely occurring?

3(C)

Erie, Pennsylvania, experiences lake-effect snow in the fall when cold winds from the northwest move across warmer lake water. The air absorbs water vapor from the lake and then deposits it as snow to the east and southeast of the lake. During some winters, the surface of Lake Erie freezes solid.

Which statement describes how this event would most likely change lake-effect snow in Erie, Pennsylvania?

Evaporation from the lake would essentially stop, causing less water to be in the surrounding air, which would result in a decrease in the amount of snowfall in Erie.

Which satellite photograph below best shows the result of the deposition of river sediments into a large body of water?

A

Which point on the diagram correctly locates 15° S 30° W?

B. X

Which location is receiving direct rays from the Sun?

(2) 2

 Which two weather symbols represent severe
   weather?

C

The polar front jet stream in Earth's atmosphere is located in the upper:

1. Troposphere

Which city had the lowest relative humidity?

1. Chicago

Letters A through D on the block diagram below represent four features resulting from glaciers.

Which feature will later form a kettle lake?

(2) B

The photograph below shows the large-scale eruption of volcanic ash from Mount Kelud in Indonesia in 2014.

This volcanic ash in the atmosphere causes

(2) less transparency and an increase in reflection of insolation

Locations W and X are within which types of air masses?

(2) W is within cP and X is within mT.

The photograph below shows a portion of the Grand Teton Mountains on a mid-July day. The inset map of the United States shows the location of the Grand Tetons.

Which factor is responsible for the snow seen on these mountains in July?

(1) elevation

In the water cycle, it can be inferred that precipitation has occurred if

(2) trees are covered with snow

Which graph best represents the change in air pressure increases at Earth’s surface?

2

 The graph below shows predicted air temperatures and dewpoints for a New York State location during a two-day period.
What is the day and time when precipitation will most likely occur at this location?

(b) Monday at 8:00 p.m.

The subtropical jet streams are located in Earth's
  

   (2) upper troposphere near 30° N and 30° 

The topographic map below shows the path of a river. Points A through E are locations in the river

Between which two points is the river flowing the fastest?

(2) B and C

5 The map below shows a coastal landscape feature, labeled X, that resulted from wave action and offshore currents parallel to the coastline.

Which landscape feature is represented by X?

(3) barrier islands

Most of the energy radiated by these land surfaces into space is in the form of

(2) infrared

The Hudson River begins its flow at Lake Tear of the Clouds, near Mt. Marcy, New York, where it has a
   surface elevation of 4293 feet. It travels 162 miles to Troy, New York, where the river's surface elevation is
   two feet. The gradient of the Hudson River between Lake Tear of the Clouds and Troy is approximately
  

(3) 26.49 ft/mi

Ireland and England, islands along the northwest coast of Europe, have climates that are warmer than the climate of New York State, even though these islands are located farther north. This increased average temperature is mostly due to the heat supplied by the prevailing winds and the

(2) North Atlantic Current

Over the last 200 years, global warming is inferred to be primarily caused by:

C. an increase in greenhouse gases

The diagram below represents four landscapes in New York State. All the landscapes have the same soil
   characteristics but different combinations of vegetation and slope.
f these landscape areas receive equal amounts of precipitation, which area will likely produce the greatest
amount of runoff?

(2) landscape 2

Which air temperature and moisture characteristics are associated with the source region over which Hurricane Sandy formed?

(2) cool and moist

Which conditions would cause runoff at location C to decrease?

(1) decreased precipitation and decreased slope

What is the primary reason that water-filled cracks in rock widen in winter?

c) Water expands when it freezes.

What is the primary source of energy that causes
  all weather phenomena on Earth?
  

(4) incoming solar radiation

What is the primary source of energy that causes
  all weather phenomena on Earth?
 

  (4) incoming solar radiation

A student made an observation about a plant. Which statement is an observation that the student most likely made?

At 10 a.m. the plant’s leaves were tilted toward the Sun