This document provides a climate study guide with questions and answers about various climate-related topics. It discusses how temperature and precipitation are used to classify climates and describes the characteristics of different biomes. It also addresses how factors like mountains, ocean currents, greenhouse gases, and volcanic eruptions can influence Earth's climate and temperature on both global and local scales.

1. Climate Study Guide Key
1. What two factors help to classify climates?
temperature and precipitation
2. Name each biome and describe some of its characteristics.
tundra: permafrost, long cold winter, can have 24 hrs night & day, moss, polar bear, reindeer
taiga: moose, bear, confiers, mosses lichens; temperate desert: cold, lizards, snakes, toads,
cacti, very hot in day and very cold at night; temperate forest: high rainfall, seasonal temp
diff, deciduous trees, fertile soil; temperate grassland: most fertile soil, bison, kangaroo,
grasses; chaparral: cool/wet winter, hot/dry summer, coyotes, mt lions, evergreen shrubs
tropical desert: driest place on Earth, scorpions, snakes; tropical rain forest: contains most
plant & animal species, nutrient poor soil; tropical savanna: dry season followed by short
periods of rain, tall grasses, adapted to fire
3. How does wind influence precipitation patterns?
The amount of precipitation an area receives can depend on whether the region’s prevailing winds
form from a warm air mass or from a cold air mass. If the winds form from a warm air mass, they will
probably carry moisture. If the winds form from a cold air mass, they will probably be dry.
Precipitation is more likely to occur when the prevailing winds are warm and moist.
4. How are tundras and deserts similar?
Both receive very little precipitation
5. What happens to sea level during an ice age?
It is lowered because of the water that is turning into ice
6. Why is it thought that increased carbon dioxide causes global warming?
it traps more heat in the atmosphere
7. Explain why the climate on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains differs drastically from
the climate on the western side.
The climate differs on each side of the Rocky Mountains because the mountains affect the
distribution of precipitation. The western side receives more precipitation because, as the warm air is
forced to rise, it releases precipitation. As the dry air crosses the mountain, it sinks, warming and
absorbing moisture. Therefore, the eastern side is much warmer and drier.
8. What causes seasons?
tilt of Earth’s axis
9. Give an example of a microclimate. What causes the unique temperature and precipitation
characteristics of this area?
Alpine biomes on tropical mountains are examples of a microclimate. Less dense air at higher
elevations retains less thermal energy and less precipitation than air at lower elevations.

2. 10. Compare the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Greenhouse effect is a natural process where greenhouse gases absorb heat and hold it in
the atmosphere where global warming is an increase in global temperatures thought to be
due to an increase in greenhouse gases
11. Explain how surface currents cause milder climates.
Warm surface currents heat the surrounding air. A warm surface current might bring warmer
temperatures to an area of land at a higher latitude that might normally be colder.
12. How might a major volcanic eruption or asteroid impact bring about an ice age?
Dust, smoke, and ash from a volcanic eruption enter the atmosphere and act as a shield,
blocking out many of the sun’s rays and causing the Earth to cool.
13. Why do higher latitudes receive less solar radiation than lower latitudes?
Higher latitudes receive less solar radiation because the sun’s rays strike the Earth’s surface at a less
direct angle. This spreads the same amount of solar energy over a larger area, resulting in lower
temperatures.
14. What are five factors that determine climates?
latitude, prevailing winds, mountains, large bodies of water, ocean currents
15. List the three climate zones of the world and the biomes that make them up.
tropical: tropical rainforest, savanna, desert; temperate: temperate forest, grassland, desert,
chaparral; polar: tundra, taiga
16. How does the climate of a city that is near a large body of water differ from a city that is far
from any body of water?
Moderates temperatures because water takes longer to heat up so it cools down air during
summer but also holds on to heat longer so it warms air during winter
17. Which biome has the most fertile soil of all?
temperate grassland
18. What are the 3 parts of the Milankovitch Theory?
1. change in orbit from circular to elliptical
2. change in tilt
3. wobble