To determine which of the specified areas of the United States received the most overall precipitation in the year 2000, we need to examine data on annual mean precipitation and compare the amounts for each area. Here is the logical approach to find the solution:
1. Identify the Areas and Their Precipitation Ranges:
- Rocky Mountains
- Great Plains
- Sierra Nevada Mountains
- Atlantic Coast
2. Understand Precipitation Categories:
The given categories for annual mean precipitation are in inches:
- `<5.01`
- `5.01 - 12.00`
- `12.01 - 20.00`
- `20.01 - 30.00`
- `30.01 - 40.00`
- `40.01 - 50.00`
- `50.01 - 70.00`
- `70.01 - 100.00`
- `> 100.00`
3. Compare Mean Precipitation Across the Areas:
- The Rocky Mountains generally receive less precipitation, often falling into the lower range categories.
- The Great Plains also receive varied precipitation, but it tends to range between lower to mid-level categories, often not exceeding 30 inches.
- The Sierra Nevada Mountains, given their geographic location and weather patterns, receive much higher precipitation, often reaching or exceeding 50 inches, particularly on the windward side.
- The Atlantic Coast typically receives a substantial amount of precipitation due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean. Certain parts of the Atlantic Coast regularly experience high levels of precipitation, sometimes exceeding 40 to 50 inches annually.
With all this information, we can logically deduce:
- Comparing all four areas, the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Atlantic Coast are the most likely candidates for the highest overall precipitation due to their geographical and meteorological characteristics.
- The Sierra Nevada Mountains feature significant precipitation, particularly in the form of snowfall in the winter, leading to high annual totals.
- In contrast, the Atlantic Coast benefits from consistent annual rainfall, influenced by the nearby ocean and various climate systems.
Between these two, the overall analysis suggests that the Atlantic Coast experiences the most consistent and significant annual total precipitation when aggregating all data.
Thus, the answer is:
D. Atlantic Coast
