What shapes a place's climate: latitude, height, distance from the sea

Grade 6 Science Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

2. 1.

   San Francisco and Wichita are at almost the same latitude. Which has the warmer July, Ari?

   • San Francisco, at 18 °C (64 °F)
   • San Francisco, as the sea heats it in summer
   • Both the same, as their latitude matches
   • Wichita, at 28 °C (82 °F)
3. 2.

   Which city changes less from January to July, Bo?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • San Francisco: 11 °C to 18 °C
   • Both change by the same amount
   • Wichita, as inland air changes slowly
   • Wichita: 1 °C to 28 °C
4. 3.

   Why is San Francisco's January milder than Wichita's, Esme?

   Use the picture in question 1.

   • The nearby ocean warms and cools slowly
   • Wichita is farther from the Sun
   • San Francisco is much nearer the equator
   • San Francisco is higher up

5. Read this first

   Use this

   Model map with a key (model data, not to scale). Town A: 10° N, on the coast, at sea level. Town B: 60° N, on the coast, at sea level. Town C: 10° N, on a mountain 20 km from the coast, 3,000 m high. Town D: 60° N, 1,500 km inland, 100 m high.

6. 4.

   On the model map, which town is likely warmest all year, Jun?

   • Town A
   • Town B
   • Town C
   • Town D
7. 5.

   A town at 1,000 ft is 80 °F. Using 3.5 °F cooler per 1,000 ft, about how warm is a lookout at 3,000 ft, Milo?

   • About 87 °F
   • About 69.5 °F
   • About 73 °F
   • About 76.5 °F

8. Use this

   Side view of a mountain (example data, not to scale): a campground at 2,000 ft at the bottom, 72 degF; a ridge at 5,000 ft higher up, temperature not shown.

9. 6.

   A campground at 2,000 ft is 72 °F. Using 3.5 °F cooler per 1,000 ft, about how warm is a ridge at 5,000 ft, Noah?

   • About 54.5 °F
   • About 61.5 °F
   • About 68.5 °F
   • About 82.5 °F
10. 7.

    example data, not to scale. temperature not shown. Note: NWS normal lapse rate, 3.5 degF cooler per 1,000 ft. A trailhead at 500 ft is 68 °F. Using 3.5 °F cooler per 1,000 ft, about how warm is a peak at 4,500 ft, Pia?

    • About 82 °F
    • About 64.5 °F
    • About 52.25 °F
    • About 54 °F
11. 8.

    Sacramento and San Francisco are close in latitude and both near sea level, but Sacramento's July is warmer. Which clue explains it, Ren?

    • Latitude
    • Elevation
    • Nearness to the Sun
    • Distance from the sea

12. Use this

    Map with a key and a climate table (NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals), columns place, where it is, January average, July average: Charleston, West Virginia, 38.4° N, inland, 277 m above sea level, 2 °C (35 °F), 24 °C (76 °F); Beckley, West Virginia, 37.8° N, inland, 766 m above sea level, 0 °C (32 °F), 22 °C (72 °F).

13. 9.

    Beckley is a little farther south than Charleston, yet its July is cooler. Which clue explains it, Tala?

    • Elevation: Beckley is about 490 m higher
    • Distance from the sea: Beckley is on the coast
    • Latitude: Beckley is farther north
    • Nearness to the Sun: Beckley is higher
14. 10.

    Bismarck and Wichita are both far inland at similar heights, but Bismarck's January is much colder. Which clue explains it, Zee?

    • Latitude: Wichita is farther from the equator
    • Latitude: Bismarck is farther from the equator
    • Nearness to the Sun: Bismarck is farther from it
    • Distance from the sea: Bismarck is on the coast