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Average Meteorology Trivia Quiz

I've always been interested in meteorology, so here are some of my favorite questions which I have collected over the years. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by weather20. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
weather20

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
160,958

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2489

Last 3 plays: Guest 103 (5/10), PurpleComet (8/10), Guest 70 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which surface absorbs the most sunlight? Hint

Dense Forests

Grassy Fields

Snow

Dry Sand

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Question 2 of 10

2. What weather-related reason is one of the leading causes of aircraft accidents? Hint

Downbursts (Microbursts)

Updrafts

Reduced visibility due to snow/rain

Tornadoes

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these scales measures the intensity of tornadoes?
Hint

Saffir-Simpson

Douglas

Beaufort

Fujita

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Question 4 of 10

4. At what time of day are noctilucent clouds visible? Hint

Any time

Dawn

Night

Noon

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Question 5 of 10

5. What criteria must be met for a snowstorm to be rightfully called a blizzard? Hint

Constant snow for more than 12 hours

Constant wind gusts of 50 mph or more, AND visibility below 1/2 mile, AND more than 12 inches of snow must fall.

Constant winds or gusts of 35 mph or more, AND visibility below 1/4 mile with heavy snow and/or blowing snow, AND all of these things must last for at least 3 hours.

Heavy snow, hurricane force winds, and visibility under 1/8 of a mile

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which type of front moves the fastest (on average)? Hint

Warm Front

Stationary Front

The speed of a front is not known

Cold Front

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Question 7 of 10

7. The process of a cloud droplet becoming large enough to fall out as rain is called which of these? Hint

Evaporation

Coalescence

Incandescence

Saturation

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Question 8 of 10

8. Are there any glaciers in the USA east of the Mississippi River?

Yes

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the highest wind gust recorded on the summit of Mount Washington, NH during the twentieth century? Hint

203 mph

281 mph

334 mph

231 mph

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is it called when the air is so dry, that precipitation evaporates before it reaches the ground? Hint

Advection

Radiation

Virga

Early Evaporation

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 17 2024 : Guest 103: 5/10
Apr 16 2024 : PurpleComet: 8/10
Apr 02 2024 : Guest 70: 5/10
Apr 01 2024 : Guest 202: 2/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 73: 3/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 107: 5/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 174: 7/10
Feb 25 2024 : matthewpokemon: 7/10
Feb 24 2024 : Guest 81: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which surface absorbs the most sunlight?

Answer: Dense Forests

Grassy fields and dry sand are not far behind in absorption, but snow reflects nearly all sunlight.

2. What weather-related reason is one of the leading causes of aircraft accidents?

Answer: Downbursts (Microbursts)

Inside a thunderstorm, there are strong winds. These very intense downward winds are called downbursts-or the smaller version microbursts.

3. Which of these scales measures the intensity of tornadoes?

Answer: Fujita

Now replaced by the Enhanced Fujita scale, the name derives from Ted Fujita the man who came up with it, in collaboration with Allen Pearson. Saffir-Simpson measures hurricanes and Beaufort relates to wind. The Douglas sea scale measures the height of waves and sea swell.

4. At what time of day are noctilucent clouds visible?

Answer: Night

These rare clouds are formed high in the atmosphere from ice crystals, and can travel at very impressive speeds. They form during the evening and can often be seen at night when they reflect sunlight.

5. What criteria must be met for a snowstorm to be rightfully called a blizzard?

Answer: Constant winds or gusts of 35 mph or more, AND visibility below 1/4 mile with heavy snow and/or blowing snow, AND all of these things must last for at least 3 hours.

Heavy snow+wind=trouble.

6. Which type of front moves the fastest (on average)?

Answer: Cold Front

Cold Front- approx. 20mph
Warm Front- approx. 15mph
Stationary Front- moves very little or not at all.

7. The process of a cloud droplet becoming large enough to fall out as rain is called which of these?

Answer: Coalescence

The average raindrop contains about 1 million times as much water as a single cloud droplet.

8. Are there any glaciers in the USA east of the Mississippi River?

Answer: No

Tuckerman Ravine, on New Hampshire's Mount Washington, holds snow for much of the year, yet it is not by any means considered a glacier.

9. What was the highest wind gust recorded on the summit of Mount Washington, NH during the twentieth century?

Answer: 231 mph

Hurricane force winds blow on the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire on average of 110 days a year, (greater than 75 mph). And these winds blow much of the snow off the summit and into the many gullies and ravines. The reading of 231 mph was recorded in 1934.

10. What is it called when the air is so dry, that precipitation evaporates before it reaches the ground?

Answer: Virga

This is when you see precipitation over your area on the weather radar, but there appears to be none when looking outside.

Source: Author weather20

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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