Part 1 instructions: Answer the questions below by selecting the best choice.
Record your answers on the answer sheet.
1. To an observer in New York State, the duration of
daylight increases continuously from
(1) March 1 to May 1
(2) June 1 to August 1
(3) September 1 to November 1
(4) December 1 to February 1
2. During which Northern Hemisphere season is Earth
closest to the Sun?
(1) spring (3) autumn
(2) summer (4) winter
3. Which combination of climate factors generally
results in the coldest temperatures?
(1) low elevation and low latitude
(2) low elevation and high latitude
(3) high elevation and low latitude
(4) high elevation and high latitude
4. In New York State, the risk of sunburn is greatest
between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on summer days because
(1) the air temperature is hot
(2) the angle of insolation is high
(3) Earth’s surface reflects most of the sunlight
(4) the Sun is closest to Earth
5. The cross section below shows the direction of air
flowing over a mountain. Points A and B are at the same
elevation on opposite sides of the mountain.
Compared to the air temperature and humidity at point
A, the air temperature and humidity at point B are
usually
(1) cooler and drier (3) warmer and drier
(2) cooler and wetter (4) warmer and wetter
6. A city located on the coast of North America has
warmer winters and cooler summers than a city at the
same elevation and latitude located near the center of
North America. Which statement best explains the
difference between the climates of the two cities?
(1) Ocean surfaces change temperature more slowly
than land surfaces.
(2) Warm, moist air rises when it meets cool, dry air.
(3) Wind speeds are usually greater over land than over
ocean water.
(4) Water has a lower specific heat than land.
7. Which current has a cooling effect on the climate of
the west coast of South America?
(1) Falkland Current (3) Benguela Current
(2) Peru Current (4) Brazil Current
8. Near which two latitudes are most of Earth’s dry
climate regions found?
(1) 0° and 60° N (3) 30° N and 60° N
(2) 0° and 30° S (4) 30° N and 30° S
9. Increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in Earth’s
atmosphere increases atmospheric temperature
because the carbon dioxide absorbs
(1) incoming solar gamma ray radiation
(2) incoming solar visible light radiation
(3) outgoing terrestrial ultraviolet radiation
(4) outgoing terrestrial infrared radiation
10. For weeks after a series of major volcanic eruptions,
Earth’s surface air temperatures are often
(1) warmer because ash and dust decrease
atmospheric transparency
(2) warmer because ash and dust increase
atmospheric transparency
(3) cooler because ash and dust decrease
atmospheric transparency
(4) cooler because ash and dust increase
atmospheric transparency
11. Which type of surface absorbs the greatest amount
of electromagnetic energy from the Sun?
(1) smooth, shiny, and light colored
(2) smooth, shiny, and dark colored
(3) rough, dull, and light colored
(4) rough, dull, and dark colored
Base your answers to questions 12 through 15 on the diagram and data table below. The diagram represents the Sun’s
apparent paths as viewed by an observer located at 50° N latitude on June 21 and March 21. The data table shows the
Sun’s maximum altitude for the same two dates of the year. The Sun’s maximum altitude for December 21 has been left
blank.

12. Which value should be placed in the

data table for the Sun’s maximum
altitude on December 21?
(1) 16.5° (3) 40°
(2) 23.5° (4) 90°

13. Which graph best represents the

relationship between the time of day and the length of a shadow cast by the observer on March 21?

14. Which statement best compares the intensity and angle of insolation at noon on March 21 and June 21?

(1) The intensity and angle of insolation are greatest on March 21.
(2) The intensity and angle of insolation are greatest on June 21.
(3) The intensity of insolation is greatest on June 21 and the angle of insolation is greatest on March 21.
(4) The intensity of insolation is greatest on March 21 and the angle of insolation is greatest on June 21.

15. Which diagram represents the approximate location of the Sun at 3 p.m. on March 21?

16.
Equal areas of which surface will absorb the most insolation?
(1) partially melted snowfield (3) white sand beach
(2) blacktop parking lot (4) lake surface
Base your answers to questions 17 through 20 on the map and passage below. The map shows the extent of summer
ice-melt zones on Greenland in 1992 and 2002. The summer melt zone is an area where summer heat turns snow and
ice around the edges of the ice sheet into slush and ponds of meltwater. Three coastal locations are shown on the map.

Arctic Meltdown

Scientists are concerned because average arctic temperatures are rising. The Greenland Ice Sheet, the dominant area of
continental ice in the arctic region, broke all previous records for melting in 2002. In 2004, the total amount of ice
resting on top of the continental crust in the arctic region was estimated to be about 3,100,000 cubic kilometers. If all
this ice were to melt, the ocean levels would rise approximately 8.5 meters. A reduction in ice-covered areas exposes
more land surfaces. This increases absorption of insolation and accelerates arctic warming. Scientists continue to collect
data to define the role of greenhouse gases in the warming of the arctic region.

17. Two of the greenhouse gases that may be responsible for the increased ice melting in Greenland are

(1) nitrogen and oxygen (2) hydrogen and helium (3) oxygen and silicon (4) carbon dioxide and methane

18. What is the approximate latitude and longitude of Godthab, Greenland?

(1) 51.5° N 64° W (2) 64° N 51.5° W (3) 70.5° N 22° W (4) 22° N 70.5° W

19. A decrease in areas covered in snow and ice leads to an increase in the absorption of insolation because exposed
land surfaces are

(1) rougher and darker (2) smoother and darker (3) rougher and lighter (4) smoother and lighter

20. One human action that could significantly reduce the effects of global warming in the future is:

(1) Burning more fossil fuels (2) Cutting down forests (3) Using more solar power (4) Industrialization
Name ____________________________________________ Period __ Climate Unit exam

Part 1: 4 points each

Part 2:
Each question is worth 4 points.

Base your answers to questions 21 through 24 on the table below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The table
provides information about sunlight received on four dates of a certain year. Letter A represents a date. The arrows
indicate the Sun’s direct rays.

21. Identify one possible date represented by letter A

________________________________

22. State the numerical latitude at which the Sun is

directly overhead at noon on December 21. Include
the units and compass direction in your answer.

_______

23. State the number of daylight hours occurring

north of the Arctic Circle on June 21.

_________ hours

24. Explain why the Sun’s direct rays are at different

latitudes as Earth revolves around the Sun.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

25. The graph below shows the average changes in monthly global air temperatures from 1990 to 1992. The time of a
major volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines is shown.

Explain how this volcanic eruption could have caused the general
decrease in temperature shown by the graph.

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

Climate Unit Exam Teacher Answer Key Each question is worth 4 points

Part 1

1. 1 6. 1 11. 4 16. 2

2. 4 7. 2 12. 1 17. 4

3. 4 8. 4 13. 4 18. 2

4. 2 9. 4 14. 2 19. 1

5. 3 10. 3 15. 4 20. 3

Part 2

21. March 19-22nd

22. 23.4oS to 23.5oS

23. 24 hours

24. Allow 4 credits. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

 Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees from a line perpendicular to the plane of
Earth’s orbit.
 axis is tilted
 Earth’s axis is always parallel to itself at any other place in Earth’s orbit.
 parallelism of Earth’s axis
 Earth’s axis is always aligned with the North Star (Polaris) as Earth orbits the
Sun.

25. Allow 4 credits. Acceptable responses include, but are not limited to:

 Dust from the volcanic eruption carried high in the atmosphere reflected and
reduced the sunlight reaching Earth’s surface.
 The eruption caused a decrease in atmospheric transparency.
 Ash blocks insolation from reaching Earth’s surface.