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Questions and Answers
What is a possible explanation that can be tested?
What is a possible explanation that can be tested?
Hypothesis
What is an explanation based on knowledge?
What is an explanation based on knowledge?
Theory
What is a rule in nature?
What is a rule in nature?
Law
What is the first step in the scientific method?
What is the first step in the scientific method?
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What is the second step of the scientific method?
What is the second step of the scientific method?
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What is the fourth step of the scientific method?
What is the fourth step of the scientific method?
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What serves as a comparison in an experiment?
What serves as a comparison in an experiment?
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What shows the effect of the variable being tested?
What shows the effect of the variable being tested?
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What aspect of the experiment is deliberately changed?
What aspect of the experiment is deliberately changed?
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What is observed during the experiment; the result?
What is observed during the experiment; the result?
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What divides Earth into east and west hemispheres?
What divides Earth into east and west hemispheres?
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What divides Earth into north and south hemispheres?
What divides Earth into north and south hemispheres?
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What layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth's surface and where Earth's weather occurs?
What layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth's surface and where Earth's weather occurs?
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What layer of the atmosphere directly above the troposphere contains the ozone layer that protects Earth from UV rays?
What layer of the atmosphere directly above the troposphere contains the ozone layer that protects Earth from UV rays?
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What layer of the atmosphere protects Earth from being hit by meteoroids?
What layer of the atmosphere protects Earth from being hit by meteoroids?
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What layer of the atmosphere contains 2 layers , the ionosphere and exosphere?
What layer of the atmosphere contains 2 layers , the ionosphere and exosphere?
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What is the lower part of the thermosphere; has charged particles that reflect radio waves allowing auroras to occur?
What is the lower part of the thermosphere; has charged particles that reflect radio waves allowing auroras to occur?
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What is the outer layer of the thermosphere?
What is the outer layer of the thermosphere?
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What process involves gases in the atmosphere absorbing infrared radiation from the sun, forming a "heat blanket" around the Earth?
What process involves gases in the atmosphere absorbing infrared radiation from the sun, forming a "heat blanket" around the Earth?
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What are winds that blow over short distances and are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface within a small area?
What are winds that blow over short distances and are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface within a small area?
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What are winds that blow over long distances and are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface within a large area?
What are winds that blow over long distances and are caused by unequal heating of Earth's surface within a large area?
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What are steady winds that blow from east to west between 30º N latitude and 30º S latitude?
What are steady winds that blow from east to west between 30º N latitude and 30º S latitude?
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What are cold winds that blow from the east to the west near the South Pole?
What are cold winds that blow from the east to the west near the South Pole?
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What are winds that blow west to east between latitude lines 30º and 60º N and 30º and 60º S?
What are winds that blow west to east between latitude lines 30º and 60º N and 30º and 60º S?
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What are high winds near the top of the troposphere flowing west to east that are able to influence weather?
What are high winds near the top of the troposphere flowing west to east that are able to influence weather?
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Which of the following are the three types of clouds?
Which of the following are the three types of clouds?
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What is pollution that comes from a single identifiable location (e.g., smokestack, erupting volcano)?
What is pollution that comes from a single identifiable location (e.g., smokestack, erupting volcano)?
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What is pollution that comes from a large area rather than from a single, specific site (e.g. large city)?
What is pollution that comes from a large area rather than from a single, specific site (e.g. large city)?
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What is an index for reporting air quality to alert people with allergies or respiratory disorders when air quality becomes low?
What is an index for reporting air quality to alert people with allergies or respiratory disorders when air quality becomes low?
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What lets the U.S. government set air quality standards to protect from harmful pollution?
What lets the U.S. government set air quality standards to protect from harmful pollution?
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What type of climate has hot temperatures and heavy rainfall year-round and are usually rainforests ?
What type of climate has hot temperatures and heavy rainfall year-round and are usually rainforests ?
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What climate has less rainfall and distinct dry and rainy seasons and are usually savannahs and tropical drylands?
What climate has less rainfall and distinct dry and rainy seasons and are usually savannahs and tropical drylands?
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What climate consists of arid regions and semarid regions?
What climate consists of arid regions and semarid regions?
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What is another name for arid regions, and how much rain do they receive every year?
What is another name for arid regions, and how much rain do they receive every year?
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What is another name for semiarid regions and what type of vegetation is common there?
What is another name for semiarid regions and what type of vegetation is common there?
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What climate is humid with mild winters and includes marine west coast, humid subtropical, and Mediterranean?
What climate is humid with mild winters and includes marine west coast, humid subtropical, and Mediterranean?
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What climate has humid air that brings cool, rainy summers and mild, rainy winters?
What climate has humid air that brings cool, rainy summers and mild, rainy winters?
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What climate is wet and warm, and not as hot as the tropics?
What climate is wet and warm, and not as hot as the tropics?
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What climate has dry and warm summers, and cool and rainy winters?
What climate has dry and warm summers, and cool and rainy winters?
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What climate is only in the northern hemisphere and includes humid continental and subarctic?
What climate is only in the northern hemisphere and includes humid continental and subarctic?
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What climate has constantly changing weather?
What climate has constantly changing weather?
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What climate lies north of humid continental and has short summers and long, bitterly cold winters?
What climate lies north of humid continental and has short summers and long, bitterly cold winters?
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What climate includes ice caps and tundra?
What climate includes ice caps and tundra?
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What climate is covered with ice and snow and always at or below freezing?
What climate is covered with ice and snow and always at or below freezing?
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What climate has short, cool summers followed by bitterly cold winters?
What climate has short, cool summers followed by bitterly cold winters?
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How does temperature change as altitude increases, and what is the result?
How does temperature change as altitude increases, and what is the result?
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Which of the following factors influence temperature?
Which of the following factors influence temperature?
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Which of the following factors influence precipitation?
Which of the following factors influence precipitation?
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Which of the following are examples of long-term climate cycles?
Which of the following are examples of long-term climate cycles?
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What are long periods of freezing weather where glaciers cover the Earth?
What are long periods of freezing weather where glaciers cover the Earth?
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What are extended warm periods between ice ages?
What are extended warm periods between ice ages?
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What are short periods of climate change due to the amount of solar energy an area receives during different times of the year?
What are short periods of climate change due to the amount of solar energy an area receives during different times of the year?
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What is an occasional climate event when the trade winds weaken and reverse the normal pattern of high and low pressure?
What is an occasional climate event when the trade winds weaken and reverse the normal pattern of high and low pressure?
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What is a wind circulation pattern that changes direction with the seasons?
What is a wind circulation pattern that changes direction with the seasons?
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What is used to gain information about past climates?
What is used to gain information about past climates?
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Study Notes
Scientific Method
- The scientific method involves a series of steps to investigate a phenomenon.
- Observe/Ask a Question: The initial step is making observations and forming a question.
- Form a Hypothesis: A testable explanation is proposed.
- Design an Experiment: This step involves setting up a way to test the hypothesis.
- Record/Analyze Results: Data from the experiment are collected and analyzed.
- Draw a Conclusion: A final determination is made based on the analysis.
- Control Group: Used for comparison.
- Experimental Group: The group receiving the tested variable.
- Independent Variable: The factor changed by the researcher.
- Dependent Variable: The factor measured during the experiment.
Earth's Atmosphere and Climate
- Prime Meridian: Divides Earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
- Equator: Divides Earth into northern and southern hemispheres.
- Troposphere: Lowest layer, where weather occurs.
- Stratosphere: Contains ozone; protects from UV radiation.
- Mesosphere: Protects from meteoroids.
- Thermosphere: Divided into ionosphere; reflects radio waves; exosphere.
- Ionosphere: Lower thermosphere; reflects radio waves, allows auroras.
- Exosphere: Outer thermosphere layer.
- Greenhouse Effect: Atmospheric gases absorb infrared radiation, keeping Earth warm.
- Local Winds: Caused by unequal heating; short distance; e.g., land breezes, sea breezes.
- Global Winds: Caused by unequal heating; long distance; wind belts.
- Trade Winds: East to west, 30°N and 30°S.
- Polar Easterlies: East to west in polar regions.
- Prevailing Westerlies: West to east between 30° and 60° latitude.
- Jet Stream: High winds in upper troposphere; west to east.
- Clouds: Cirrus, cumulus, and stratus are cloud types.
Earth's Environmental Concerns
- Point-Source Pollution: Pollution from a single identifiable source.
- Non-Point Source Pollution: Pollution from many sources over a large area.
- Air Quality Index (AQI): Measures air quality. Helps people with respiratory problems.
- Clean Air Act (1970): US law setting air quality standards.
Climate Zones
- Tropical Wet Climate: Year-round high temperatures and rainfall.
- Tropical Dry-Wet Climate: Distinct dry and rainy seasons.
- Dry Climate: Includes arid (deserts) and semi-arid (steppes) regions.
- Arid regions: Receive less than 25 cm of rain annually.
- Semiarid regions: Receive enough rain for grasses to grow.
- Temperate Marine Climate: Mild winters, humid and rainy summers.
- Marine West Coast: Cool, rainy summers; mild, rainy winters.
- Humid Subtropical: Warm and wet, not as hot as tropics.
- Mediterranean: Hot, dry summers; cool, wet winters.
- Temperate Continental Climate: Humid continental and subarctic are included.
- Humid Continental: Variable Weather.
- Subarctic: Short, cool summers, long, cold winters.
- Polar Climate: Includes ice caps and tundra.
- Ice Caps: Covered in ice; always below freezing.
- Tundra: Short, cool summers; bitterly cold winters.
- Highlands: Temperature decreases with increasing altitude.
Climate Influences and Cycles
- Factors Influencing Temperature: Latitude, altitude, distance from large bodies of water, and ocean currents.
- Factors Influencing Precipitation: Prevailing winds, mountains, and seasonality.
- Long-Term Climate Cycles: Ice ages and interglacials.
- Short-Term Climate Cycles: Seasons, El Niño, and monsoons.
- Ice Ages: Long periods of freezing weather.
- Interglacials: Warm periods between ice ages.
- Seasons: Variations in solar energy throughout the year.
- El Niño: Weakening of trade winds, affecting pressure patterns.
- Monsoon: Seasonal wind change.
- Tree rings: Used to understand past climates.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
This quiz covers the essential steps of the scientific method and key concepts related to Earth's atmosphere and climate. Participants will explore how observations lead to hypotheses, experiments, and conclusions, while also understanding the significance of different atmospheric layers. Get ready to test your knowledge on these foundational scientific principles!
