Chapter 6 Investigation Worksheet; page 2

To complete this worksheet, see the instructions in the textbook (Chapter 6 Investigation).

Table 1. Planetary Features
This globe below shows the features on a hypothetical planet.
  • Examine the planet and identify features that might have a major impact on the climate, weather, and other interactions of the atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere system. Mark the location of the key features and connect them with leader lines to a brief description of the feature’s possible impact (write this in the space around the globe).

Using the figure in table 1 and your textbook, circle the best answer for each question below.

Question / Answers
The Polar Continent near the North Pole would most likely / a) be a warm, sunny place
b) be too cold to affect ocean circulation
c) generally experience high pressure
The ocean that completely surrounds Polar Continent in the Northern Hemisphere is likely to contain / a) very cold water
b) some icebergs
c) water that is more saline in some areas than others
d) all of these
The continuous ocean from 0° to 60°N is likely to have / a) a cold surface current near Eastern Continent
b) a warm surface current near Eastern Continent
c) warmer water near 60°N than near the equator
The continuous ocean south of the equator is likely to have / a) a cold surface current near Western Continent
b) a warm surface current near Western Continent
c) no ocean currents
Where is the most likely location of a warm pool? / a) at 45°N in the Northern Hemisphere
b) at 45°S in the Southern Hemisphere
c) along the equator of the Western Continent
d) near the center of the Eastern Continent
What direction of winds is most likely between the equator and 30°N? / a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
What direction of winds is most likely between the equator and 30°S? / a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
What direction of winds is most likely between 30°N and 60°N? / a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
What direction of winds is most likely between 60°N and the North Pole? / a) trade winds; b) westerlies
c) polar easterlies; d) no winds
Which of the following places are the waters likely to be more saline than average? / a) in the subtropics of the Northern Hemisphere
b) in the subtropics of the Southern Hemisphere
c) near the sea ice in the Southern Hemisphere
d) all of these
Where is the most likely site for a rain shadow associated with the mountains on the west coast of the Eastern Continent? / a) in the Northern Hemisphere of the Western Continent
b) in the Southern Hemisphere of the Western Continent
c) near the equator, east of the mountains on the Eastern Continent
d) none of these
What is the likely effect of the mountains on the west coast of the Eastern Continent between 30°N and 60°N? / a) it will cause a rain shadow east of the mountains
b) it will cause a rain shadow west of the mountains
c) it will cause a rain shadow on the Western Continent
What is the likely result of when the sea ice in the high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere expands (covers more area)? / a) increases planetary albedo
b) decreases planetary albedo
c) causes seawater nearby to be less salty
Which area on land will most likely be affected by a warm pool in the adjacent ocean? / a) the tropical and subtropical parts of the Western Continent adjacent to the ocean
b) the tropical and subtropical parts of the Eastern Continent adjacent to the ocean
c) the interior of the Western Continent at 45°N
d) the interior of the Eastern Continent at 45°N
Table 2. Patterns of surface wind patterns and ocean currents
The globe below shows the same planet. On the globe draw and label the following:
  • Likely regional surface wind patterns, such as westerlies and trade winds.
  • Likely position of ocean currents; show warm currents in red, cold currents in blue, and other currents (neither warm nor cold) in black.
  • Locations of warm pools (shade in light red) and any area on land whose temperatures on land would likely by influenced by a warm pool (shade affected land in orange).
  • Any area whose precipitation is likely to be affected by orographic effects associated with a mountain range. Shade an area green if it will receive more rainfall because of the mountain range and yellow if it will receive less rainfall (is in a rain shadow).

Table 3. Optional Cross Sections (Only Do This If Requested by Your Instructor)
If directed to by your instructor, draw the following five cross sections at the locations and orientations indicated below. Show surface wind patterns, zones of rising or sinking air, possible geometries of a Walker cell (where appropriate), and cold and warm currents (just label the position of any current that is moving in or out of the page).
East-west section between the Equator and 30° N
East-west section within a zone of westerlies
East-west section within the south polar zone, south of 60° S
A location and orientation of your choosing (show the location on the previous globe)
A north-south section through the ocean from the North Pole to the South Pole, showing shallow and deep flows that could link up into a thermohaline conveyor. Below the section, describe how this might influence the climate of the planet and what would happen if this system stops.