Homework - Rain Shadow

Last updated 12 months ago

10 questions

Note from the author:

Instructions

Homework - Rain Shadow

Last updated 12 months ago

10 questions

Note from the author:

Landforms - Landforms studied in topography can include anything that physically impacts the area. Examples include mountains, hills, valleys, lakes, oceans, rivers, cities, dams, and roads.
Elevation - The elevation, or height, of mountains and other objects is recorded as part of topography. It is usually recorded in reference to sea level (the surface of the ocean).
Latitude - Latitude gives the north/south position of a location in reference from the equator. The equator is a horizontal line drawn around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole. The equator has a latitude of 0 degrees.
Longitude - Longitude gives the east/west position of a location. Longitude is generally measured in degrees from the Prime Meridian.

Instructions

Landforms - Landforms studied in topography can include anything that physically impacts the area. Examples include mountains, hills, valleys, lakes, oceans, rivers, cities, dams, and roads.
Elevation - The elevation, or height, of mountains and other objects is recorded as part of topography. It is usually recorded in reference to sea level (the surface of the ocean).
Latitude - Latitude gives the north/south position of a location in reference from the equator. The equator is a horizontal line drawn around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole. The equator has a latitude of 0 degrees.
Longitude - Longitude gives the east/west position of a location. Longitude is generally measured in degrees from the Prime Meridian.

Air Pressure
We experience pressure from the air all around us. Air is made up of many molecules, mainly nitrogen and oxygen. These molecules are constantly bumping into us from all different directions. The force from these molecules bumping against us is what creates air pressure.

We don’t tend to notice air pressure because it remains relatively constant when we stay at the same elevation. However, air pressure decreases as we move from sea level to the top of a mountain. There are fewer air molecules bumping against you the higher up you go, so the air pressure is lower. You may have felt the effects of this pressure change when flying in an airplane or driving to the top of a mountain. The pressure change causes your ears to “pop.”

When you’re submerged in the ocean, you experience pressure from the force of the water molecules that surround you. At the surface, the pressure from the water is the same as the pressure from the air.  Pressure increases the deeper you go in the ocean because there is more water above you. This water has weight, and weight is force. This force pushes against you, so you experience greater pressure all around.

Pressure is measured in many different units. Air pressure at Earth’s surface is equal to one atmosphere (atm).

Why does this pressure matter for fish?
Many, but not all, fish have a gas-filled organ called a swim bladder. The swim bladder helps fish stay buoyant in the water. Without the swim bladder the density of their bodies would cause the fish to sink. The fish would have to keep swimming just to stay afloat. In fact, sharks don’t have swim bladders to keep them buoyant, so if they don’t swim continually they sink to the bottom.

When a fish is quickly brought to the surface, the lower pressures allow the gas molecules inside the swim bladder to have more space to move. This causes the swim bladder to expand like a balloon. When the swim bladder expands, it presses on other organs. It can even force some organs out of the fish’s body. This often results in the death of the fish.

The relationship between volume and pressure is explained by Boyle’s law: As pressure increases, the volume of a gas decreases. As pressure decreases, the volume of a gas increases.

Scientists at the Academy engineered a portable decompression chamber that maintains high pressures while fish are brought to the surface. At the surface, the chamber is connected to a pump and valves that slowly decrease the pressure. Given enough time, many fish can regulate the gas in their swim bladders and adjust to slow changes in pressure. This is what the portable decompression chamber allows the fish to do.

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Question 3 | 01:30

Question 4 | 02:31

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Question 3

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Question 4

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Create your own model to describe why dry weather exists on the leeward sides and high precipitation or snow exists on the windward side of mountains.

All of these answers must be in complete full sentences.

A) Which city has a cooler climate? What evidence supports your conclusion?

B) Is there a difference between Leadville's and Burlington's climate related to their latitude? Explain your reasoning.

C) What affect does elevation have on temperatures? Use evidence in your explanation.

Which city receives less rain? Why do you think this occurs considering what you know about rain shadow (leeward and windward sides of mountains?

Write or illustrate your ideas below.

What is the windward side of a mountain?

Trim End | 03:28

Question 9 | 00:00

Question 10 | 03:26

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Question 9

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Question 10

03:26

Homework - Rain Shadow

Homework - Rain Shadow

Air Pressure

Why does this pressure matter for fish?

Create your own model to describe why dry weather exists on the leeward sides and high precipitation or snow exists on the windward side of mountains.

Which city receives less rain? Why do you think this occurs considering what you know about rain shadow (leeward and windward sides of mountains? Write or illustrate your ideas below.

What is the windward side of a mountain?

Air Pressure

Why does this pressure matter for fish?

Create your own model to describe why dry weather exists on the leeward sides and high precipitation or snow exists on the windward side of mountains.

Which city receives less rain? Why do you think this occurs considering what you know about rain shadow (leeward and windward sides of mountains? Write or illustrate your ideas below.

What is the windward side of a mountain?

Which city receives less rain? Why do you think this occurs considering what you know about rain shadow (leeward and windward sides of mountains?

Write or illustrate your ideas below.

Which city receives less rain? Why do you think this occurs considering what you know about rain shadow (leeward and windward sides of mountains?

Write or illustrate your ideas below.