SOL Exam Review: Atmosphere, Weather & Climate Thomas V. Dagenhart, M.S. V 2.0

A. An anemometer B. A barometer C. A thermometer D. A seismometer 0. Which of these can be used to measure atmospheric pressure? 2001 Anemometer & weather vane, photograph courtesy of U.S. NIST Barometer, drawing courtesy of NASA Pressure in mm of Hg

5. Water vapor is lighter than many atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. Why then doesn't water vapor rise above these other gases to a higher level of the atmosphere? 2001 A. Water vapor contains other elements that give it weight. B. The cool atmosphere condenses the rising water vapor and causes it to fall back to Earth. C. The water molecules are attracted to molecules of heavier gases and remain in the lower regions of the atmosphere. D. There is an attraction among the water vapor molecules to hold them together close to the Earth.

8. The countries shown here released much more CO 2 than the rest of the world because these countries have the largest A. number of people B. amount of rainfall C. number of heavy industries D. amount of land per person

24. According to the map, most hurricanes occur where A. the oceans are warmest B. the landmasses are largest C. the atmosphere is driest D. areas of greatest population exist June – November in N. Hemisphere December – May in S. Hemisphere

30. Moist air from the Pacific Ocean rises and cools as it passes from west to east over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Once it is over the mountain range, the air descends and warms on the other side. What is the result of the air ascending, then descending over the mountains? 2001 A. Desert on the west side of the mountains and heavy rains on the east side B. Heavy rains on the west side of the mountains and desert on the east side C. Heavy rains on the west side of the mountains and year-round snow on the east side D. Desert on the east and west sides of the mountains and heavy rains on top of the mountains Rain Shadow

32. Hypothesis: In the summer, the warmest air will be closest to South Lake. According to the data shown by the graph, the warmest air during the summer will be found A. closest to North Lake B. above South Lake C. above the land between the lakes D. closest to the water level of the lakes Sea Breeze Convection

48. Which factor would best explain why Charlottesville is clear while Norfolk has mist? 2001 A. Temperature B. Humidity C. Wind speed D. Pressure

6. Students want to compare the relative ability of four materials to absorb heat. The materials they have chosen are light-colored sand, black sand, clear water, and water that has been dyed black. They plan to heat the substances and then measure their temperatures every 10 minutes with a thermometer. Which experimental design would best suit their purpose? 2000 A B C D

A. A large lake keeps Irkutsk cool. B. Irkutsk has fewer trees than London has. C. High mountains near London block cold winds. D. Warm ocean currents influence London ’s climate. 38. London and Irkutsk are located at approximately the same latitude. What would help explain why London experiences a more moderate range of temperatures than does Irkutsk? 2000 Maritime Climate Continental Climate

41. How many advances of ice are indicated by the core sample? 2000 A. Two B. Three C. Five D. Eight

42. The diagrams show that as life forms changed on Earth so did the composition of the atmosphere. The correct order of these changes over geologic time is — 2000 A. 2,3,1,4 B. 2,3,4,1 C. 3,4,2,1 D. 3,2,4,1

8. Which of these often results when warm moist air combines with cooler air? 1998a A. Clear, sunny skies B. Abnormally high temperatures C. Rain and thunderstorms D. Global warming

3. Which element in Earth’s atmosphere is essential for human life and is extremely rare or nonexistent in the atmospheres of other planets in our solar system? 2003 A. Carbon dioxide B. Hydrogen C. Nitrogen D. Oxygen CO % H 2 trace N 2 78% O 2 21%

10. According to this map, the mean annual temperature for most of the eastern half of Virginia is between A. 45 o F and 50 o F B. 50 o F and 55 o F C. 55 o F and 60 o F D. 65 o F and 70 o F Lines on this map which connect points of equal temperature are called isotherms. What’s the mean temperature at X? X X

12. What causes currents in the atmosphere? 2003 A. Ocean waves and currents B. Pressure from the ozone layer C. Solar heating of the upper atmosphere D. Warm air rising and cold air sinking Convection is the term applied to mixing currents that are driven by density differences. Density differences often result from temperature differences.

A Convection-Driven Circulation Cell Similar to circulation on a non-rotating Earth. Garrison, 2005 Equator Poles

22. Which of these is important in the formation of clouds? 2003 A. The relative length of day and night B. The Coriolis effect C. The melting of the polar ice caps D. The cooling of air as it rises What term is used for the phase change of water vapor gas into the liquid droplets that form most clouds? Condensation What term is used for the phase change of water vapor gas into the solid ice crystals that form high cirrus clouds? Sublimation

28. What is one of the major indications that the Earth’s climate has varied over time? 2003 A. Land forms carved by glaciers in temperate areas B. Depletion of oxygen in lakes and rivers C. Ocean currents D. Magnetic reversals in layers of rock Doane Rock, the largest glacial erratic on Cape Cod, MA is 45 feet long. Dagenhart, 2003

33. If there were a slight increase in the amount of solar energy that reached the Earth, there would be an immediate increase in A. erosion B. evaporation C. volcanic activity D. groundwater flow

42. The chart shows the relationship between altitude and air pressure. What is the approximate air pressure at an altitude of 22 kilometers? 2003 F. 40 millibars G. 120 millibars H. 200 millibars J. 400 millibars What’s the pressure at the top of Mt. Everest?

45. Government programs to reduce acid rain have resulted in cleaner emissions from U.S. industries in recent years. As a result, the sulfate concentration in rainwater has declined significantly. But the sulfate concentration in some lakes is showing little, if any, change. Why might this be true? 2003 A. There is no connection between emissions from industry and the acidity of lake water. B. The sulfate in American lakes is actually coming from industries in Europe and Asia. C. Sulfate that accumulated earlier in the soil is still being flushed into the lakes by run-off. D. Individual industries produce fewer emissions, but the amount of precipitation has increased. Sulfuric Acid = H 2 SO 4 Nitric Acid = HNO 3

Citations for Sources of SOL Exam Review Questions 1997 = 1997 Sample SOL Questions 1998a = 1998 Sample SOL Questions 1998b = 1998 Released SOL Questions 2000 = 2000 Released SOL Questions 2001 = 2001 Released SOL Questions 2002 = 2002 Released SOL Questions 2003 = 2003 Released SOL Questions All questions copyrighted by Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Education.

A. B. C. D.