Climate Patterns Explained - Middle School Earth and Space Science
Card 1 of 25
What is the global circulation cell that produces rising air and frequent rain near the equator?
What is the global circulation cell that produces rising air and frequent rain near the equator?
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Hadley cell. Warm air rises at equator, moves poleward, then sinks at 30°.
Hadley cell. Warm air rises at equator, moves poleward, then sinks at 30°.
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Which global wind belt blows from east to west between $0^\circ$ and $30^\circ$ latitude?
Which global wind belt blows from east to west between $0^\circ$ and $30^\circ$ latitude?
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Trade winds (easterlies). Coriolis effect deflects air moving toward equator.
Trade winds (easterlies). Coriolis effect deflects air moving toward equator.
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Which global wind belt dominates between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
Which global wind belt dominates between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
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Prevailing westerlies. Coriolis effect deflects poleward-moving air eastward.
Prevailing westerlies. Coriolis effect deflects poleward-moving air eastward.
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What is the circulation cell that drives most mid-latitude weather between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$?
What is the circulation cell that drives most mid-latitude weather between $30^\circ$ and $60^\circ$?
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Ferrel cell. Surface winds flow from high pressure at 30° to low at 60°.
Ferrel cell. Surface winds flow from high pressure at 30° to low at 60°.
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What is the boundary near $60^\circ$ latitude where warm and cold air masses often meet?
What is the boundary near $60^\circ$ latitude where warm and cold air masses often meet?
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Polar front. Warm air from south meets cold polar air, creating storms.
Polar front. Warm air from south meets cold polar air, creating storms.
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What is the circulation cell associated with cold, sinking air at the poles?
What is the circulation cell associated with cold, sinking air at the poles?
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Polar cell. Cold dense air sinks at poles and flows toward 60°.
Polar cell. Cold dense air sinks at poles and flows toward 60°.
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Identify the regional climate most strongly linked to rising, moist air near the ITCZ.
Identify the regional climate most strongly linked to rising, moist air near the ITCZ.
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Tropical rainy climate. Rising air at ITCZ produces heavy rainfall in equatorial regions.
Tropical rainy climate. Rising air at ITCZ produces heavy rainfall in equatorial regions.
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What type of air motion dominates near $30^\circ$ latitude and leads to many deserts?
What type of air motion dominates near $30^\circ$ latitude and leads to many deserts?
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Sinking, warming, dry air (subtropical high). Descending air compresses and heats, removing moisture.
Sinking, warming, dry air (subtropical high). Descending air compresses and heats, removing moisture.
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Identify the regional climate most likely at $30^\circ$ latitude under persistent subtropical high pressure.
Identify the regional climate most likely at $30^\circ$ latitude under persistent subtropical high pressure.
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Arid or desert climate. Sinking air prevents cloud formation and precipitation.
Arid or desert climate. Sinking air prevents cloud formation and precipitation.
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Identify the regional climate most likely near the ITCZ when it is overhead for much of the year.
Identify the regional climate most likely near the ITCZ when it is overhead for much of the year.
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Tropical rainforest (warm and wet). Rising air at ITCZ creates clouds and daily rainfall.
Tropical rainforest (warm and wet). Rising air at ITCZ creates clouds and daily rainfall.
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Which hemisphere has trade winds that blow from the northeast toward the equator?
Which hemisphere has trade winds that blow from the northeast toward the equator?
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Northern Hemisphere. Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds rightward in NH.
Northern Hemisphere. Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds rightward in NH.
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Which hemisphere has trade winds that blow from the southeast toward the equator?
Which hemisphere has trade winds that blow from the southeast toward the equator?
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Southern Hemisphere. Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds leftward in SH.
Southern Hemisphere. Coriolis deflects equator-bound winds leftward in SH.
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Identify the prevailing surface wind direction at $45^\circ$N in the global wind belts.
Identify the prevailing surface wind direction at $45^\circ$N in the global wind belts.
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From west to east (westerlies). Located in westerly wind belt between 30° and 60°.
From west to east (westerlies). Located in westerly wind belt between 30° and 60°.
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Identify the most likely precipitation pattern at about $60^\circ$ latitude where air commonly rises.
Identify the most likely precipitation pattern at about $60^\circ$ latitude where air commonly rises.
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Frequent precipitation and storms. Rising air at polar front creates low pressure and storms.
Frequent precipitation and storms. Rising air at polar front creates low pressure and storms.
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Which coast in the mid-latitudes is more likely to have a mild, wet marine climate due to westerlies?
Which coast in the mid-latitudes is more likely to have a mild, wet marine climate due to westerlies?
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West coast of a continent. Westerlies bring moist ocean air to western coasts.
West coast of a continent. Westerlies bring moist ocean air to western coasts.
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Which evidence best supports that a region is under sinking air: persistent clear skies or daily thunderstorms?
Which evidence best supports that a region is under sinking air: persistent clear skies or daily thunderstorms?
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Persistent clear skies. Sinking air suppresses cloud formation.
Persistent clear skies. Sinking air suppresses cloud formation.
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What is the name of the low-pressure belt near $0^\circ$ latitude with frequent clouds and storms?
What is the name of the low-pressure belt near $0^\circ$ latitude with frequent clouds and storms?
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Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Where northeast and southeast trade winds converge, forcing air upward.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Where northeast and southeast trade winds converge, forcing air upward.
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Which pressure system is typical near the poles and contributes to cold, dry conditions?
Which pressure system is typical near the poles and contributes to cold, dry conditions?
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Polar high pressure. Sinking cold air creates high pressure and stable conditions.
Polar high pressure. Sinking cold air creates high pressure and stable conditions.
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What is the Coriolis effect on moving air in the Northern Hemisphere?
What is the Coriolis effect on moving air in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Deflection to the right. Earth's rotation deflects moving objects clockwise in NH.
Deflection to the right. Earth's rotation deflects moving objects clockwise in NH.
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What is the Coriolis effect on moving air in the Southern Hemisphere?
What is the Coriolis effect on moving air in the Southern Hemisphere?
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Deflection to the left. Earth's rotation deflects moving objects counterclockwise in SH.
Deflection to the left. Earth's rotation deflects moving objects counterclockwise in SH.
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What is the name of the global wind belt that blows from west to east in the mid-latitudes?
What is the name of the global wind belt that blows from west to east in the mid-latitudes?
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Westerlies. Prevailing winds between 30-60° latitude, driven by Ferrel cell circulation.
Westerlies. Prevailing winds between 30-60° latitude, driven by Ferrel cell circulation.
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What is the name of the global wind belt that blows from east to west near the poles?
What is the name of the global wind belt that blows from east to west near the poles?
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Polar easterlies. Cold, dense air sinks at poles and flows toward 60° latitude.
Polar easterlies. Cold, dense air sinks at poles and flows toward 60° latitude.
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What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) best described as?
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) best described as?
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A low-pressure belt where air rises near the equator. Warm air converges and rises here, creating clouds and precipitation.
A low-pressure belt where air rises near the equator. Warm air converges and rises here, creating clouds and precipitation.
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What type of surface pressure is most common near $30^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
What type of surface pressure is most common near $30^\circ$ latitude in both hemispheres?
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High pressure. Descending air from Hadley cells creates subtropical high-pressure zones.
High pressure. Descending air from Hadley cells creates subtropical high-pressure zones.
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What type of surface pressure is most common near $0^\circ$ latitude (the equator)?
What type of surface pressure is most common near $0^\circ$ latitude (the equator)?
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Low pressure. Rising warm air at the ITCZ creates an equatorial low-pressure belt.
Low pressure. Rising warm air at the ITCZ creates an equatorial low-pressure belt.
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