Global wind belts and the jet stream

Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   A globe with three loops in each hemisphere. A classmate says air rises at the equator and sinks at the poles in one big loop. Which reply fits NOAA, by Esme's reading?

   • No; Earth's rotation splits each hemisphere into three cells
   • Correct; rotation has no effect on how air moves around the globe
   • No; there are ten cells
   • Correct; there is one cell per hemisphere
2. 2.

   A wavy jet stream high above the surface. A student says the jet stream blows from east to west near the ground. Which reply fits NOAA, by Jun's reading?

   • No; it blows north to south down at the ground
   • No; it blows west to east about 30,000 feet up
   • Correct; it is the trade wind
   • Correct; it is a surface easterly
3. 3.

   Bands of H and L on a globe. A student says high pressure brings rain. Which reply fits NOAA, by Kira's reading?

   • No; pressure has no link to the weather people feel at the surface
   • Correct; deserts sit under lows
   • Correct; highs bring storms
   • No; highs usually bring fair, dry weather, and lows bring rain
4. 4.

   A wind arrow with a speed and a time beside it. A plane rides a 200 km/h jet-stream tailwind for 4 hours (example data). How much farther does it go than in still air, by Luz's math?

   • About 204 km
   • About 50 km
   • About 800 km
   • About 8,000 km
5. 5.

   Four evidence cards, labeled A to D. Which evidence best supports a high-pressure belt near 30°, by Pia's reading (NOAA)?

   • The polar jet sits at 30°
   • Rain forests line the 30° belt
   • Many deserts lie near 30° N and S
   • Trade winds blow from the west there

6. Read this first

   Use this

   A wavy jet stream high above the surface.

7. 6.

   A weather balloon over 45° N finds winds of 250 km/h from the west at 9 km (model data). What has it most likely found, by Ren's reading?

   • A jet stream
   • The trade winds
   • A westerly breeze at the surface
   • The polar easterlies
8. 7.

   Model data: a polar jet's average latitude moves from 40° N in winter to 50° N in summer. What explains it, by Tala's reading (NOAA)?

   • It moves toward the equator in summer
   • Ocean currents push it north
   • It follows the Sun, shifting poleward as the Sun climbs higher
   • It reverses direction each season
9. 8.

   A globe with three loops in each hemisphere. Which summary of global winds fits NOAA, by Zee's reading?

   • Three cells, with highs at the equator and at 60°
   • One cell per hemisphere, with winds blowing straight north and south
   • Three cells per hemisphere; trades, westerlies and polar easterlies; highs near 30°
   • Three cells, with trade winds blowing from the west

10. Use this

    A wavy jet stream high above the surface.

11. 9.

    Which summary of jet streams fits NOAA, by Ari's reading?

    • Narrow west-to-east winds that stay fixed in one spot each year
    • Wide east-to-west surface winds, strongest in summer
    • Ocean currents running 30,000 feet deep
    • Narrow west-to-east winds near 30,000 feet, strongest in winter
12. 10.

    Which summary of why air turns east as it moves poleward fits NOAA, by Bo's reading?

    • It keeps its eastward momentum as Earth's surface slows toward the poles
    • Air turns west as it moves poleward
    • Earth's surface speeds up toward the poles
    • Winds blow from high to low with no turning