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climatology questions 1) Mediterranean dry-summer climates A) are bordered polew

ID: 293649 • Letter: C

Question

climatology questions

1) Mediterranean dry-summer climates A) are bordered poleward by steppe climates B) experience dry conditions in summer due to the subtropical high overhead. C) experience wet conditions in summer due to the ITCZ overhead. D) experience wet conditions in winter due to the ITCZ overhead. 2) According to global climate change predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), temperatures by the year AD 2100 will be | A) 4.5C degrees lower than the 1950 to 1980 period. B) about the same as the 1950 to 1980 period C) from 1.4C (2.5F) to 5.8C (10.4F) degrees higher than 1990 D) warmerland by the same amount at the equator as in the polar regions. 3) As regards average annual precipitation, which of the following is correct? A) The highest amounts occur throughout subtropical latitudes. B) The highest average values occur along the equator C) The precipitation tends to increase with latitude toward the poles. D) The drier regions are associated with the eastern portions of major landmasses.

Explanation / Answer

Precipitation - rain, snow, sleet and hail - is associated with areas of rising air and low pressure. When air rises it cools, and the moisture it contains condenses out as clouds, which eventually produce precipitation. In regions of high pressure, air is descending, the atmosphere is stable, the skies are usually clear, and precipitation is rare.

The highest rainfall totals occur near the equator in the tropics, where the strong heating by the Sun creates significant vertical uplift of air, and the formation of prolonged heavy showers and frequent thunderstorms. Annual rainfall totals in the tropics usually exceed 100 inches or 2,500 millimetres, and can be as high as 400 inches or 10,000 millimetres, particularly if influenced by the monsoons or if mountains enhance the uplift of air.Within the polar regions precipitation is low because air is too cold to contain much water vapour. In addition, the cold heavy air descends precluding much cloud formation.