Station 1: Ocean Currents

Use the ocean currents map copied from page 4 of the ESRT and the passage to answer the questions that follow

.

The Map:

Questions:

1. Name the cool current off the West coast of North America

2. Name the warm current off the East coast of South America

3. What type of current is the Australian Current?

4. What type of current is the Peru Current?

5. Name a current that will bring cool water to the Equator

6. Where do warm currents originate and which direction do they normally flow?

7. Where do cool currents originate and which direction do they normally flow?

8. Explain how the East Australian Current will affect the climate of the East Coast of Australia

9. Explain how the West Australian Current will affect the climate of the West Coast of Australia

Station 2: Elevation

- Read the passage below

- Use the data table to complete the station. The snow line is the lowest elevation at which snow remains on

the ground all year. The data table shows the elevation of the snow line at different latitudes in the

Northern Hemisphere

1. Graph the data points

2. Mt. Mitchell, in North Carolina, is located at 36oN and has a peak elevation of 2037 meters. Plot the

latitude and elevation of Mt. Mitchell on your graph. Use a plus sign to mark this point.

3. Use your graph to determine, to the nearest whole degree, the lowest latitude at which a peak with the

same elevation as Mt. Mitchell would have permanent snow.

4. State the relationship between latitude and the elevation of the snow line.

5. Explain how you could find cities with low latitudes that still have snow year round

Station 3: Imaginary Continent

Use the information provided to place features in their

appropriate location on the imaginary continent in your

packet.

1. Lightly draw in the planetary winds.

2. Write the letter that corresponds to each city in a

location that would have a climate that meets the

descriptions below.

City A: Located close to the equator, but has snow on

the ground year round

City B: Has a warm and very dry climate

City C: Has a moderate climate; it never gets too hot in

the summer or too cold in the winter. The prevailing

winds are from the NE.

City D and E are separated by a mountain range. City

E is cooler and has a lot precipitation, while city D is

warmer and very dry.

Climate Types and Factors That Cause Them Climate Climactic Producing Factors

Warm 1. Low latitudes

2. Warm currents

3. Much vegetation

4. Leeward side of mountains

5. 0o and 30

o N & S

Cool 1. High latitudes

2. Cool currents

3. Windward side of mountains

4. Higher elevations

5. 60o and 90

o N & S

Arid (Dry) 1. Far from water (continental)

2. Leeward side of mountains

2. 30o and 90

o N & S

Humid (Moist) 1. Close to water (marine)

2. Windward side of mountains

3. 0o and 60

o N & S

Large Temperature Range 1. High latitudes

2. Far from water (continental)

3. Hot summers, cold winters

Small Temperature Range 1. Low latitudes

2. Close to water (marine)

3. Warm summers and winters

Marine (Coastal) 1. Close to water

2. Cool summers, warm winters

Continental (Inland) 1. Far from water

2. Hot summers, cold winters

High Precipitation 1. Close to water

2. Windward side of mountains

3. High elevations

4. Stormy areas

5. Vegetative areas

6. 0o and 60

o N & S

Station 4: Mountain Ranges Use the readings and diagrams to answer the questions.

The diagram below shows a mountain range running from East to West through California. The arrows show

the prevailing winds in this part of the country. The bar graph beneath the diagram shows the amount of yearly

precipitation received in each location.

Questions:

1. What is the range of precipitation for the four locations in the Coastal Mountain Ranges?

2. Explain why Death Valley receives the least amount of precipitation.

3. Which location in this diagram has the warmest average annual temperature?

4. Why is the East or West side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range receiving more precipitation?

5. Explain the difference between the characteristics of the windward and leeward side of a mountain.

Station 5 – Planetary Wind Belts

Use the reading and the diagrams below to answer the questions

Diagram I shows the planetary wind belts of Earth. Diagram II is a graph of the

average yearly precipitation for locations 90oN latitude to 90

oS latitude.

Questions:

1. Which latitudes have the most precipitation?

2. Which latitudes have the least precipitation?

3. Which latitudes have converging air?

4. Explain the relationship between precipitation and latitude.

5. Explain the relationship between converging air and precipitation.

Station 7 – Dry Climates

Use the map below that shows some of the world’s largest deserts to answer the

questions that follow.

Questions:

1. Give the approximate latitude of the:

a. Sahara b. Gobi c. Kalahari d. Simpson

2. State the approximate latitude for most deserts and state whether it is a

convergent or divergent wind zone.

3. Complete the chart of Climates and Planetary Wind Belts

Station 8 – Brain Pop

Go to www.brainpop.com

Log in Username: bronx Password: bronx

Click on Science

Click on Weather

Click on Climate Types

Click on Zoom Movie

Watch movie

Once you have finished the movie, click on Take the Quiz (Graded Quiz)

Record your answers in your packet

Click on View Your Results

Review your answers

If you have time left, go back to Weather and investigate another topic