Question 1

Air pressure increases as you move up in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. As you move up in the atmosphere, air pressure decreases due to the decrease in the density of air molecules.

Question 2

What should you do when a tornado watch is issued for your area?
A) Go outside and watch for the tornado to come
B) Run quickly down to your basement because a tornado is coming
C) Keep informed and be ready to take cover if a tornado is spotted
D) Open all doors and windows so that the tornado doesn't damage your home

Accepted Answer

When a tornado watch is issued for your area, it means that conditions are favorable for a tornado to form. It is not a certainty that a tornado will occur, but it is important to keep informed by staying tuned to local weather reports and being alert for any signs of a tornado. It is also important to be ready to take cover if a tornado is spotted. Running to the basement or other safe location is the best option. Going outside to watch the tornado or opening doors and windows is extremely dangerous and should be avoided.

Question 3

In which situation will you see freezing rain, as opposed to snow or sleet?
A) Snow falls into warm air on the ground.
B) Snow falls through warm air and then into a small slice of below freezing air on the ground.
C) Snow falls through warm air and then into a large area of below freezing air on the ground.
D) Snow falls through only cold air.
E) Rain falls through only warm air.

Accepted Answer

Freezing rain occurs when snowflakes fall through a layer of warm air and melt into raindrops. The raindrops then fall through a small layer of below freezing air, causing them to freeze on contact with the ground or other surfaces, creating a glaze of ice. This is different from sleet, which occurs when snowflakes fall through a larger layer of below freezing air and partially melt before refreezing into ice pellets, and from snow, which falls through only cold air.

Question 4

Which of the following hazards is NOT influenced by the weather? A) Landslides B) Earthquakes C) Flooding D) Wildfires E) Hurricanes

Accepted Answer

Earthquakes are not influenced by the weather. They are caused by tectonic forces in the earth's crust, and their occurrence is not dependent on weather conditions.

Question 5

Heat is needed to make water change from liquid to gas.

Accepted Answer

This is a well-known fact of science. Heat energy is required to break the bonds between water molecules in the liquid state, facilitating their transformation to the gas state. The process is called evaporation.

Question 6

Heat energy can always be measured using a thermometer.

Accepted Answer

Thermometers measure temperature, not heat energy directly. Heat energy, or thermal energy, is the total energy of the moving particles in a substance and can be related to temperature but also depends on the mass and type of substance.

Question 7

The Earth gets its energy from the Sun mostly through conduction.

Accepted Answer

The Earth gets its energy from the Sun mostly through radiation, not conduction. Conduction is the transfer of heat between two objects that are in contact with each other, while radiation is the transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves. The Sun radiates energy in the form of light and heat, which travels through space and reaches the Earth, transferring energy to it.

Question 8

The Earth intersects most of the Sun's radiation.

Accepted Answer

The Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field protect it by absorbing or deflecting most of the Sun's harmful radiation, allowing only a fraction to reach the surface.

Question 9

Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds that form during the mature stage of a thunderstorm.

Accepted Answer

Cumulus clouds can form during non-thunderstorm conditions, such as fair weather. They are characterized by their puffy, cotton-like appearance and can grow into thunderstorms in certain conditions.

Question 10

Which natural hazard affects more people than any other?
A) Lightning
B) Tornadoes
C) Dust storms
D) Drought
E) Blizzards

Accepted Answer

Drought affects more people than any other natural hazard, as it can last for months or even years and impact entire regions or countries, leading to water shortages, crop failure, and famine. The other options affect a smaller number of people in comparison.

Question 11

Clouds can absorb and reflect sunlight.

Accepted Answer

Clouds can indeed absorb and reflect sunlight, which is why they can impact the temperature and overall weather conditions in a given area.

Question 12

Energy is the ability to do work.

Accepted Answer

Energy is defined as the capacity to do work or produce heat. It can exist in several forms such as kinetic, potential, thermal, electromagnetic, and chemical energy.

Question 13

The light that we are able to see is only a small portion of the radiation that we get from the sun.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. The sun emits a wide range of radiation, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation, X-rays, and radio waves, in addition to visible light. However, our eyes are only sensitive to a very small range of wavelengths within the visible spectrum, which is why we can only see a small portion of the sun's total radiation output.

Question 14

No mountains on Earth extend above the troposphere.

Accepted Answer

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to about 10-15 km (6-9 miles) in height. No mountain on Earth extends above this height, therefore the statement is true. The highest mountain, Mount Everest, reaches a height of 8.8 km (5.5 miles) which is below the troposphere.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a way in which humans can affect the weather? A) Humans create cities that trap heat. B) Humans contribute to global warming, which can cause an increase in drought. C) Farming by humans can cause soil to dry out causing dust storms. D) Humans contribute to global warming, which can cause an increase in hurricane strength. E) The abundance of swimming pools is causing a large increase in fog.

Accepted Answer

While swimming pools may contribute to humidity levels in the immediate vicinity, they do not have a significant impact on the weather patterns that create fog on a larger scale.

Question 16

What is the difference between a Nor'Easter and an Alberta Clipper?
A) A Clipper is a stronger storm than a Nor'Easter.
B) A Clipper produces higher winds than a Nor'Easter.
C) A Nor'Easter usually has more snow than a Clipper.
D) A Clipper is warmer than a Nor'Easter.
E) There is no difference between a Nor'Easter and a Clipper.

Accepted Answer

A Nor'Easter typically has more moisture and therefore more snow than an Alberta Clipper, which is a fast-moving, low-pressure system that brings light snow and colder temperatures. The other answer choices are all incorrect.

Question 17

Relative humidity describes how close the air is to being saturated.

Accepted Answer

Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the air compared to the amount it could hold at a given temperature, with 100% relative humidity indicating that the air is saturated with moisture.

Question 18

Which of the following is TRUE about tornado prediction? A) It is not possible to know when or where a tornado will occur. B) Doppler Radar can show exactly when a tornado will form up to 6 hours prior to touchdown. C) Doppler Radar can show when a tornado will form, but it can't show where it will touchdown. D) Tornado prediction is very good, but most people don't follow warnings. E) Conditions for tornadoes can be spotted on radar and tornadoes can be detected once they develop.

Accepted Answer

Conditions for tornadoes can be spotted on radar and once they develop, tornadoes can then be detected. While Doppler Radar can indicate rotation and potential tornado formation, it cannot accurately predict the exact location where a tornado will touch down. However, improvements in technology and forecasting models have made tornado prediction much more accurate in recent years.

Question 19

How is a blizzard defined?
A) In terms of wind speed and visibility
B) In terms of wind speed and amounts of snow
C) In terms of amounts of snow and freezing rain
D) In terms of temperature and atmospheric pressure
E) In terms of amounts of snow and temperature

Accepted Answer

A blizzard is defined as a severe snowstorm with sustained winds of at least 35 mph and visibility of less than 0.25 miles for at least three hours. Therefore, it is defined in terms of wind speed and visibility.

Question 20

High atmospheric pressure is associated with clear skies and dry conditions.

Accepted Answer

High atmospheric pressure often indicates stable atmospheric conditions, resulting in clear skies and dry weather. In contrast, low pressure systems are often associated with cloudy, wet, and potentially stormy weather.

Quiz 9: Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Air pressure increases as you move up in the atmosphere.

What should you do when a tornado watch is issued for your area?

In which situation will you see freezing rain, as opposed to snow or sleet?

Which of the following hazards is NOT influenced by the weather?

Heat is needed to make water change from liquid to gas.

Heat energy can always be measured using a thermometer.

The Earth gets its energy from the Sun mostly through conduction.

The Earth intersects most of the Sun's radiation.

Cumulus clouds are puffy clouds that form during the mature stage of a thunderstorm.

Which natural hazard affects more people than any other?

Clouds can absorb and reflect sunlight.

Energy is the ability to do work.

The light that we are able to see is only a small portion of the radiation that we get from the sun.

No mountains on Earth extend above the troposphere.

Which of the following is NOT a way in which humans can affect the weather?

What is the difference between a Nor'Easter and an Alberta Clipper?

Relative humidity describes how close the air is to being saturated.

Which of the following is TRUE about tornado prediction?

How is a blizzard defined?

High atmospheric pressure is associated with clear skies and dry conditions.