- 1. The world is home to a myriad of extreme weather phenomena, each illustrating the incredible power and unpredictability of nature. From the blistering heat of wildfires in the Australian outback to the chilling temperatures of polar vortices sweeping across North America, these events capture the attention and concern of meteorologists and climate scientists alike. Tropical cyclones, such as hurricanes and typhoons, can unleash destructive winds, torrential rains, and towering storm surges, affecting millions of lives as they traverse warm ocean waters. In stark contrast, blizzards in regions like the northeastern United States can blanket entire towns in several feet of snow, paralyzing infrastructure and isolating communities. Tornadoes, often referred to as nature’s most violent storms, can form and dissipate in a matter of minutes, uprooting trees and obliterating buildings with their funnel-shaped winds. Meanwhile, monsoon seasons bring heavy rainfall and flooding to South Asia, while droughts can ravage agricultural lands, leading to food shortages and economic distress. Each of these extreme weather events serves as a reminder of the delicate balance of our planet’s climate system and raises critical questions about how climate change may influence the frequency and intensity of these phenomena in the future.
What is the strongest tornado rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale?
A) EF2
B) EF5
C) EF4
D) EF3
- 2. Which climate phenomenon is characterized by warming ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific?
A) Monsoon
B) El Niño
C) Typhoon
D) La Niña
- 3. Which scale is used to measure hurricanes?
A) Beaufort scale
B) Enhanced Fujita scale
C) Saffir-Simpson scale
D) Richter scale
- 4. What is the average wind speed of a Category 5 hurricane?
A) 110 mph
B) 90 mph
C) 130 mph
D) 157 mph or higher
- 5. What is the term for a sudden flood that happens within six hours of heavy rain?
A) River Flood
B) Flash Flood
C) Tidal Flood
D) Urban Flood
- 6. What is a common characteristic of a blizzard?
A) Sunny weather
B) Heavy rain
C) Tornadoes
D) Visibility less than 1/4 mile
- 7. Which country experiences the most tropical cyclones annually?
A) USA
B) Philippines
C) Australia
D) India
- 8. What is the primary measurement for quantifying snowfall?
A) Inches or centimeters
B) Cubic feet
C) Pounds
D) Gallons
- 9. What climatic event is characterized by the cooling of ocean temperatures in the Pacific?
A) Monsoon
B) La Niña
C) Tornado
D) El Niño
- 10. What is the term for a rotating column of air that makes contact with both the cloud base and the earth?
A) Hurricane
B) Tornado
C) Cyclone
D) Dust Devil
- 11. Which country is known for having the most severe winter storms?
A) Egypt
B) Brazil
C) Canada
D) Nigeria
- 12. What type of cloud is typically associated with thunderstorms?
A) Cirrus
B) Stratus
C) Nimbostratus
D) Cumulonimbus
- 13. What instrument is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
A) Anemometer
B) Barometer
C) Thermometer
D) Hygrometer
- 14. What severe weather phenomenon is characterized by long-lasting and intense rainfall?
A) Blizzard
B) Monsoon
C) Hurricane
D) Tornado
- 15. What is the main feature of a supercell storm?
A) Rotating updraft
B) Weak updraft
C) Multi-cell structure
D) No precipitation
- 16. What scale measures the intensity of earthquakes?
A) Beaufort scale
B) Saffir-Simpson scale
C) Richter scale
D) Enhanced Fujita scale
- 17. Which country experiences the most tornadoes annually?
A) Brazil
B) Australia
C) Canada
D) United States
- 18. Which region is known as 'Tornado Alley'?
A) Southeast Asia
B) Central United States
C) Southern Africa
D) Northern Europe
- 19. Where is the place known as the coldest inhabited place on Earth?
A) Antarctica
B) Oymyakon, Russia
C) Greenland
D) Siberia, Russia
- 20. What is the leading cause of heat waves?
A) High-pressure systems
B) Low-pressure systems
C) Cold fronts
D) Tropical storms
- 21. What is the wettest place on Earth?
A) Mawsynram, India
B) Cherrapunji, India
C) Tutunendo, Colombia
D) Cropp River, New Zealand
- 22. In which year did Hurricane Katrina occur?
A) 2005
B) 2000
C) 2003
D) 2008
- 23. Which weather phenomenon is measured using the Beaufort scale?
A) Wind speed
B) Temperature
C) Rainfall
D) Air pressure
- 24. What is the main cause of drought?
A) Excessive rainfall
B) High humidity
C) Heavy snowfall
D) Prolonged lack of precipitation
- 25. Which state is known as the 'Tornado Alley'?
A) Oklahoma
B) California
C) Wyoming
D) Maine
- 26. What is the term for a long period of abnormally low rainfall?
A) Drought
B) Flood
C) Hail
D) Storm
- 27. What is the name for a severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility?
A) Tornado
B) Blizzard
C) Monsoon
D) Cyclone
- 28. What is the term for a large-scale wind pattern that affects weather over a huge area?
A) Trade winds
B) Jet stream
C) Ocean currents
D) Tornadoes
- 29. Which continent is known for having the strongest recorded winds?
A) Antarctica
B) Asia
C) North America
D) Europe
- 30. What is the typical characteristic of a microburst?
A) A sudden downdraft of wind
B) A rotating updraft
C) A long-lasting storm
D) Continuous heavy rainfall
- 31. What phenomenon causes heavy rainfall in the Pacific Northwest of the USA?
A) Frontogenesis
B) Orographic lift
C) Convection
D) Radiation cooling
- 32. What is the primary driver of severe weather patterns?
A) Atmospheric instability
B) Solar cycles
C) Geothermal activity
D) Ocean currents
- 33. Where do most thunderstorms occur in the United States?
A) Florida
B) Alaska
C) Texas
D) California
- 34. In which season are most tornadoes in the U.S. typically observed?
A) Fall
B) Winter
C) Summer
D) Spring
- 35. Which event is characterized by a sudden rise in the sea level due to a storm?
A) Tidal Wave
B) Flood
C) Tsunami
D) Storm Surge
- 36. What is the strongest hurricane category on the Saffir-Simpson scale?
A) Category 5
B) Category 6
C) Category 3
D) Category 4
- 37. Which region is known for experiencing monsoons?
A) Sub-Saharan Africa
B) The Arctic
C) Northern Europe
D) Southeast Asia
- 38. What type of lightning is characterized by stepping from cloud to ground?
A) Cloud-to-Ground Lightning
B) Ground-to-Cloud Lightning
C) Cloud-to-Cloud Lightning
D) Ball Lightning
- 39. Which is the strongest recorded earthquake magnitude?
A) 8.0
B) 10.0
C) 9.0
D) 9.5
- 40. What natural disaster is measured by the Mercalli scale?
A) Hurricane damage
B) Flood levels
C) Earthquake intensity
D) Tornado strength
- 41. What is the term for a series of large ocean waves caused by an underwater earthquake?
A) Tsunami
B) Rogue wave
C) Storm surge
D) Tidal wave
- 42. What is the main cause of most extreme weather events?
A) Earthquakes
B) Solar flares
C) Climate change
D) Volcanic eruptions
- 43. What type of climate is characterized by high humidity and heavy rainfall?
A) Tropical rainforest
B) Steppe
C) Savanna
D) Desert
- 44. Which type of extreme weather is known for causing 'whiteouts'?
A) Torrential rains
B) Blizzards
C) Sandstorms
D) Heat waves
- 45. Which of the following storms is characterized by low pressure and rapidly rotating winds?
A) Cyclone
B) Warm front
C) Cold front
D) Anticyclone
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