As you look for a moment at the map of the biomes of the world, you will notice that the tropical rain forest is found at the equator. The next line on this map to the north is 60 degrees North latitude, and between 60 and 0 or the equator you will find the 30 degree latitude area. If you scan across the page you will notice the major deserts of the world are found in the area of 30 degree north latitude and this is caused by the fact that warm air rising from the equator, heavily laden with water, cools as it rises and drops its moisture at around 15 north latitude and descends as cold, dry air, and picks up the moisture that is found at around the 30 north latitude area, and causes it to dry out, and hence, causes it to form deserts.

This rising and falling of air, the rising of warm air and falling of cold dry air is actually wind, but the wind patterns are actually caused by the fact that the spinning movement of the earth twists these winds that are caused by the warm air rising and moving its moisture and the cold air falling as we go from the equator to the poles, and the spinning movement of the earth actually creates the major wind patterns across the surface of the earth.

However, the worldwide patterns of rainfall are modified locally by a variety of factors. For example, along our own West Coast, where the winds are prevailing westerlies, the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas have abundant rainfall, while the eastern slopes are dry and desert- like.

Which of the following is NOT true concerning air currents?

a. The earth's rotation and temperature differences in air masses create air currents.

b. The warm air of the tropics is saturated with water and rises at the equator.

c. At around 30 degree North and South latitudes the cooled air sinks and is heated by radiated heat from the earth's surface forming warm, dry air; therefore, the earth's major deserts are found at the 30 degree latitudes.

d. Cooler air retains much higher amounts of moisture which is deposited at the poles.

Which of the following statements concerning the effects of climate on ocean currents is NOT true?

a. Ocean currents are formed by the rotation of Earth, wind, and direct heating of water by the sun.

b. Due to continent interruptions currents for circular patterns called gyres.

c. Water heats and cools more slowly than land and air.

d. Northern Hemisphere gyres rotate in a counter clockwise motion and the Southern Hemisphere gyres rotate in a clockwise motion.