1.Describe the 1 st Law of Thermodynamics in as easy a manner as possible. ANS: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but simply transform 2.Describe the 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics in as easy a manner as possible. ANS: When energy transforms from one form to another, some is always lost 3.What happens to the cold-water current off the west coast of South America during ENSO? ANS: It is suppressed, allowing warm water, which is nutrient poor, to overtake it.

4. How does the Earth’s distance to the sun influence seasons? ANS: It doesn’t impact seasons AT ALL! 5.Generally speaking, why are polar regions on Earth much colder than equatorial regions? ANS: The angle of insolation at the poles is amazingly oblique, and not nearlyas direct as they are at the equator. 6.Of the three types of energy transfer we learned about, which form is apparent in solids, such as Earth’s crust? ANS: Conduction 7.What is the ultimate source of most energy on Earth? ANS: The Sun

8. Of the three types of energy transfer we learned about, what type of energy transfer is able to occur on Earth within the fluid atmosphere and hydrosphere? ANS: Convection 9. Why are there differences in air pressure from place to place on planet Earth? ANS: Uneven heating of Earth’s surface 10. How does pressure gradient (slope) affect wind speed? ANS: the steeper the slope, the faster the wind 11.What force forms due to differential speeds of rotation at the equator and pole? ANS: Coriolis force

12. How are winds named? ANS: for the direction FROM which they come 13. As you move up through the atmosphere, what happens to pressure and wind speeds? ANS: pressure decreases, and wind speeds increase 14. Describe where Hadley Cells form, and their circulation pattern (which direction at the surface, and aloft?). ANS: Warm air rises at the equator, moves aloft north or south to 30°, where it sinks and moves along the surface back to the equator. 15.Describe how Ferrel Cells form, and their circulation pattern. (which direction at the surface, and aloft?) ANS: Cold air sinks at 30° north or south, and moves along the surface toward the poles to 60°, where it rises and moves aloft, back towards 30° again.

16. Which global circulation pattern is the smallest? ANS: Polar cell 17. Where do Jet Streams form in the atmosphere? ANS: at the tropopause, between the troposphere and the stratosphere 18.Where do Cyclones form? ANS: Indian Ocean 19. Which image above would be more indicative of polar jet position during winter? ANS: B A B

20.By far, where do most of the severe cyclonic (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons) storms form? ANS: Northern Hemisphere, in the Western Pacific Ocean 21. Why does ENSO form? ANS: Unusually weak easterly trade winds allow warm surface waters to migrate across the Pacific towards the coast of South America 22.What happens when an unusually strong easterly trade wind forms? ANS: La Nina 23.What does the Saffir-Simpson scale measure? ANS: Hurricane intensity

24.Why is Earth’s position in our solar system referred to as the Goldilocks Zone? ANS: Because it isn’t too cold, nor too hot…but just right. 25.What is the name given to the fact that the moon rotates at the same rate it revolves? ANS: Synchronous rotation 26. Name one reason the moon is important to the Earth? ANS: the moon’s gravitation pull creates tides on Earth; the moon’s gravitation pull slows down Earth’s rotation speed 27. What is the difference between a waxing and a waning moon? ANS: Waxing is getting bigger, waning is getting smaller.

28. In this diagram, where are the most direct rays of the Sun striking? ANS: Tropic of Cancer 29.At what latitude will you measure the smallest angle of insolation? ANS: 66 ½ ° S latitude 30. What season is the Earth experiencing in the diagram above? ANS: June Solstice 31. At what latitude would they be experiencing 24 hours of daylight? ANS: 66 ½ ° North Latitude

31. On what day/days is the vernal equinox? ANS: March 21, and September When would you be able to measure the largest angle of insolation here at NHS? ANS: June At what position is Earth closest to the Sun in its revolution pattern? ANS: Perihelion 34. At what position is the Earth closest to perihelion? ANS: B 35.What position is vernal equinox for NH? ANS: C A B C D

36. What part of the EM spectrum permeates the atmosphere, coming from the Sun…and which part is reflected back from Earth’s surface and trapped by greenhouse gases? ANS: Ultraviolet comes through; Infrared gets reflected and trapped