Question

town a town b town c
day 1 day 2 day 3
temperature (°f) conditions temperature (°f) conditions temperature (°f) conditions
town a 77 high clouds 81 partly cloudy 84 cloudy
town b 77 mostly sunny 77 high clouds 80 partly cloudy
town c 75 mostly sunny 77 mostly sunny 77 high clouds
what caused the weather to change in the towns?
a. the types of gases in the atmosphere changed in the area.
b. earth moved into a phase of its cycle that is closer to the sun.
c. the sun sent additional energy toward earth from solar flares.
d. an air mass with different characteristics than before moved through the area.

Explanation:

• Option A: Atmospheric gas types don't change rapidly to cause short - term weather changes like in 3 days.
• Option B: Earth's orbital phase change (closer to Sun) is a long - term (seasonal) process, not for 3 - day weather shifts.
• Option C: Solar flares' extra energy impact on Earth's weather in a localized 3 - day period is not typical.
• Option D: Air masses have distinct temperature and moisture characteristics. When a new air mass moves through an area, it changes the temperature and weather conditions, which matches the short - term (3 - day) weather changes in the towns.

Answer:

D. An air mass with different characteristics than before moved through the area.