Clouds & Particles

Basics

1. Clouds

Can you answer the following questions?
1) Thermal convection is... a) the transition of water vapour into water droplets b) when two or more droplets collide and form bigger droplets c) when warm air rises and cold air sinks d) condensation   3) Which of these processes does not produce clouds? a) Heat from the Sun heats the ground and water evaporates. b) As air rises its temperature  increases. c) Warm air rises and cold air sinks. d) Cooling of humid air leads to condensation.   5) The cirrus, stratus and cumulus cloud names are inspired by the clouds'... a) colour b) formation process c) altitude d) shape   7) The alto clouds are found at... a) high levels. b) mid levels. c) low levels. d) low, mid and high levels.   9) Clouds with nimbus or nimbo in their names... a) are very stable and usually stay in the sky for several days without changing shape or location. b) can only contain water droplets, and not ice. c) can give rain. d) are thin and feathery. 2) Convection may lead to... a) cloud formation b) warmer air near the ground c) slowing of the water cycle d) evaporation   4) Clouds can appear as fog when... a) cold air moves horizontally into a warm area b) moist air moves horizontally into a warm area c) cold moist air moves horizontally into a dry area d) warm moist air moves horizontally into a cold area   6) A cirrus cloud consists of... a) water droplets b) only water vapour c) ice crystals d) vapour, droplets and ice   8) Low level clouds all have names containing... a) cumulus or cumulo. b) stratus or strato. c) cirrus or cirro. d) altus or alto.   10) Thermal convection forms... a) storms. b) cumulus clouds. c) a halo (a ring around the Sun). d) cirrus clouds. Quiz results: Questions you got right: Questions you got wrong: Grade in %:

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About this page:

Authors: Ellen K. Henriksen and Camilla Schreiner - University of Oslo - Norway. Scientific reviewer: Justine Gourdeau - LaMP Clermont ferrand - France - 2004-01-13. Quiz programmer: Julia Heres - University of Nürnberg - Germany. Last update: 2004-03-27.