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
   • No; there are ten cells
   • Correct; there is one cell per hemisphere
   • Correct; rotation has no effect on how air moves around the globe
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
   • Correct; it is a surface easterly
   • No; it blows west to east about 30,000 feet up
   • Correct; it is the trade wind
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; highs usually bring fair, dry weather, and lows bring rain
   • Correct; deserts sit under lows
   • Correct; highs bring storms
   • No; pressure has no link to the weather people feel at the surface

4. Read this first

   Use this

   A wind arrow with a speed and a time beside it.

5. 4.

   NOAA: Earth's surface moves east at over 1,600 km/h at the equator. How far is that in 24 hours, by Milo's math?

   • About 384,000 km
   • More than 38,400 km, about once around Earth
   • About 1,600 km
   • About 66 km
6. 5.

   A jet stream moves 300 km/h (example data). How long would it take to carry air 4,500 km, by Noah's math?

   • About 150 hours
   • About 0.07 hours
   • About 1,350,000 hours
   • About 15 hours
7. 6.

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

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

8. Use this

   A wavy jet stream high above the surface.

9. 7.

   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 westerly breeze at the surface
   • A jet stream
   • The trade winds
   • The polar easterlies
10. 8.

    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 follows the Sun, shifting poleward as the Sun climbs higher
    • It reverses direction each season
    • It moves toward the equator in summer
    • Ocean currents push it north
11. 9.

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

    • One cell per hemisphere, with winds blowing straight north and south
    • Three cells, with highs at the equator and at 60°
    • Three cells, with trade winds blowing from the west
    • Three cells per hemisphere; trades, westerlies and polar easterlies; highs near 30°
12. 10.

    A wavy jet stream high above the surface. Which summary of jet streams fits NOAA, by Ari's reading?

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