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    Earth Science worksheet
    Topic: Jet Streams

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    Jet Streams
    1

    The map below shows a cold, arctic air mass that moved southeast from Canada to cover most of the eastern half of the United States during January 2010.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci-v202-exam_g10.png

    Which shift caused this flow of cold air out of Canada?

    (1) the northward shift of the global temperature zones

    (2) the northward shift of the Sun’s vertical rays

    (3) a southward shift of the polar front jet stream

    (4) a southward shift of the subtropical jet stream

    2

    The map below shows two seasonal positions of the polar front jet stream over North America.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12012-examw_g13.png

    Which statement best explains why the position of the polar front jet stream varies with the seasons?

    (1) Rising air compresses and cools in winter.

    (2) Water heats and cools more rapidly than land in winter.

    (3) Prevailing winds reverse direction in summer.

    (4) The vertical rays of the Sun shift north of the equator in summer.

    3

    The map below shows a position of the polar jet stream over North America in January.

    reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, presentation-of-weather-data, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12016-examw_g19.png

    Which map best shows the air-mass movements associated with this jet stream position?

    (1) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, presentation-of-weather-data, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12016-examw_g15.png

    (2) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, presentation-of-weather-data, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12016-examw_g16.png

    (3) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, presentation-of-weather-data, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12016-examw_g17.png

    (4) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, presentation-of-weather-data, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci12016-examw_g18.png

    4

    In which temperature zone of Earth’s atmosphere is the polar jet stream located?

    (1) lower thermosphere

    (2) lower mesosphere

    (3) upper stratosphere

    (4) upper troposphere

    5

    The diagram below shows the locations of the two major jet streams in Earth’s atmosphere.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12020-examw_g9.png

    Compared to the subtropical jet stream, the polar front jet stream is at a

    (1) lower latitude and lower altitude

    (2) lower latitude and higher altitude

    (3) higher latitude and lower altitude

    (4) higher latitude and higher altitude

    6

    The map below shows a typical position and average velocity of the polar front jet stream during two different seasons.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams fig: esci62012-exam_w_g3.png

    For the eastern United States, the change of the polar front jet stream from this summer position to this winter position causes

    (1) warmer temperatures farther north and causes storms to move more slowly

    (2) warmer temperatures farther north and causes storms to move more rapidly

    (3) cooler temperatures farther south and causes storms to move more slowly

    (4) cooler temperatures farther south and causes storms to move more rapidly

    7

    The map of North America below shows the position of the polar front jet stream on January 7, 2014, and the location of Atlanta, Georgia.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, air-mass, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62017-exampwr_g5.png

    Which type of air mass was most likely located over Atlanta, Georgia?

    (1) mT

    (2) mP

    (3) cT

    (4) cP

    8

    Which diagram best represents the general position and direction of flow of the polar front jet stream in the Northern Hemisphere during the winter months?

    (1) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62018-examw_g2.png

    (2) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62018-examw_g3.png

    (3) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62018-examw_g4.png

    (4) reference-tables, planetary-wind-and-moisture-belts-in-the-troposphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, weather-basics-and-observable-patterns, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62018-examw_g5.png

    9

    The subtropical jet streams are fast flowing air currents located in the atmosphere about10 kilometers above the surface of Earth. In

    which layer of the atmosphere are the subtropical streams located?

    (1) stratosphere

    (2) mesosphere

    (3) troposphere

    (4) thermosphere

    Base your answers to questions 10 on the map below, which shows the position of the jet stream relative to two air masses and a low-pressure center (L) over the United States.

    reference-tables, selected-properties-of-earth-atmosphere, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, jet-streams, meteorology, the-atmosphere, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci82012-examw_g44.png

    10

    In which layer of the atmosphere is this jet stream located?

    (1) thermosphere

    (2) mesosphere

    (3) stratosphere

    (4) troposphere

    11

    Jet stream winds over the United States generally move from

    (1) east to west

    (2) west to east

    (3) north to south

    (4) south to north

    12

    The map below shows the most likely positions and speeds of the polar front jet stream in summer and in winter.

    meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, meteorology, transfer-of-heat-energy, seasons-and-astronomy, seasons, meteorology, front, meteorology, jet-streams, standard-6-interconnectedness, models, standard-6-interconnectedness, patterns-of-change fig: esci82022-exam_g11.png

    In winter, the polar front jet stream has a more southerly path with winds traveling at speeds that are generally

    (1) less than in summer, and Earth’s Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun

    (2) less than in summer, and Earth’s Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun

    (3) greater than in summer, and Earth’s Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun

    (4) greater than in summer, and Earth’s Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the Sun

    Base your answers to questions 13 on the map in image provided, which represents the center of a low-pressure system indicated by L. The 1000-millibar (mb) isobar is drawn around the center of this low-pressure system.
    13

    Identify one factor that usually causes many low-pressure centers to generally move from west to east across the United States. [1]

    Allow 1 credit. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

    • — the prevailing southwest winds

    • — the jet stream

    • — planetary winds