Air quiz

1. What is global warming ?

□	the current increase in the average temperature during summer 
□	the current increase in the average temperature of our planet’s air, oceans and crust
□	the current increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans and its projected continuation
□	the projected increase of atmospheric greenhouse gases in the future

2. What is the Kyoto protocol ?

□	a law to stop the use of CFC which harm the ozone layer
□	an international guideline for the promotion of natural ressources and protection of biodiversity
□	an international rule forcing all countries to declare and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 50% for 2012.
□	a guideline signed by many countries aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

3. Which unit is used to measure ozone ?

□	millimeters units
□	Dobson units
□	Edison units
□	m³ units

4. Why is ozone depletion in the stratosphere worrying ?

□	because the ozone layer protect us from the greenhouse effect
□	because the ozone layer protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays 
□	because it is harmful for us to breathe ozone
□	because it causes icebergs to melt down

5. Which one of these is false ?

□	the ozone hole over the Antartic is caused by chemical reactions with chemicals released by men
□	the ozone hole over the Antartic reaches its maximum in June 
□	the ozone hole over the Antartic is seasonal
□	the ozone hole over the Antartic is much smaller in December, when the ozone-destroying chemical reactions have stopped 

Hint : The chemical reaction destroying ozone needs light. 

6. Which of these satellites is not used to collect meteorological data ?

□	Meteosat-8
□	SeaWIFS
□	Quickbird 
□	Aqua

Hint: Think of the resolution of the images produced by these satellites. Weather predictions can be made only if the image covers quite a large part of the globe. 

Tropical storms with winds reaching 33 m/s have different names depending on their location.

7. In the Northwest Pacific Ocean (west of the dateline) they are called:
□	hurricane
□	severe cyclonic storm
□	typhoon
□	severe tropical cyclone

8. In the Southeast Indian Ocean, they are called :
□	hurricane
□	severe cyclonic storm
□	typhoon
□	severe tropical cyclone

9. In the North Atlantic Ocean, they are called :
□	hurricane
□	severe cyclonic storm
□	typhoon
□	severe tropical cyclone
10. In the North Indian Ocean, they are called :
□	hurricane
□	Severe cyclonic storm
□	typhoon
□	severe tropical cyclone

11. What is “smog” ?

□	a layer of ozone in the stratosphere
□	a ground level mixture of ozone and of fine particles of air pollutants 
□	air pollutants causing the ozone hole
□	a cloud which produces acid rains

12. What is the common ground for RADAR (RAdio Detection and RAnging) and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) techniques ?

□	both generate their own outgoing signal (they are active sensor systems)
□	both can only receive a signal (they are passive sensor systems)

13. How have carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations evolved since 1997 in Hawaii? 

□	mean CO2 concentrations have decreased 
□	CO2 concentrations oscillate every year but the mean is staying at the same level since 1997
□	mean CO2 concentrations have increased 
□	we don’t know because CO2 concentrations are impossible to measure 

14. What is El Niño ? 

□	a climatic event characterized by very strong trade winds promoting vigorous upwelling of cold water along the coast of Peru. 
□	a climatic event characterized by unusually warm sea surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. 
□	a climatic event characterized by unusually cold sea surface temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. 
□	a climatic event characterized by weak trade winds promoting vigorous upwelling of cold water along the coast of Peru.