1. Which type of precipitation occurs when water vapor condenses directly into ice crystals without passing through the liquid phase?
Correct Answer: c) Snow
Snow forms when water vapor undergoes deposition (direct transition from gas to solid) in subfreezing temperatures, creating ice crystals that grow into snowflakes.
2. The process by which tiny cloud droplets merge to form larger raindrops is called:
Correct Answer: b) Coalescence
Coalescence occurs when smaller droplets collide and merge due to air turbulence and differential fall speeds, forming larger raindrops.
3. Which instrument is used to measure the duration and intensity of rainfall?
Correct Answer: c) Pluviometer
A pluviometer (rain gauge) collects and measures liquid precipitation over time. Modern versions can record intensity (mm/hr) and duration automatically.
4. A "rain shadow" area is most likely to experience:
Correct Answer: c) Arid conditions
Rain shadows form on the leeward side of mountains where descending dry air creates deserts (e.g., Death Valley east of Sierra Nevada).
5. Which of the following is NOT a factor influencing precipitation patterns?
Correct Answer: c) Soil type
While soil affects water infiltration and local humidity, it doesn't determine regional precipitation patterns like latitude, ocean currents, or topography do.
6. In cloud seeding for artificial rain, silver iodide is used because it:
Correct Answer: b) Mimics ice crystal structure
Silver iodide's hexagonal crystal structure resembles ice, providing nucleation sites for supercooled water droplets to freeze and grow into precipitation.
7. Which precipitation type forms when raindrops freeze before reaching the ground?
Correct Answer: b) Sleet
Sleet forms when snow melts into rain aloft, then refreezes into ice pellets in a deep cold layer near the surface (distinct from hail which forms in thunderstorms).
8. The term "orographic precipitation" refers to rainfall caused by:
Correct Answer: b) Mountain barriers
Orographic lift forces moist air upward along windward slopes, causing adiabatic cooling, condensation, and enhanced precipitation (e.g., >100 inches/year in Western Ghats).
9. The unit used to measure snowfall is:
Correct Answer: a) Millimeters (mm) of liquid equivalent
Meteorologists melt collected snow to measure its water content, allowing comparison with rain data (e.g., 10:1 ratio means 100mm snow ≈ 10mm water).
10. Which region receives the highest average annual rainfall globally?
Correct Answer: c) Mawsynram, India
This village in Meghalaya averages 11,871mm/year due to orographic lift of monsoon winds against the Khasi Hills (compared to Amazon's ~2,300mm).
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