So you think you know weather and climate?

Weather elements

100

What is the (metric) unit of measurement for temperature?

Degree celsius

200

Rainfall, snow, sleet and hail are all forms of...?

Precipitation.

300

Temperature increases with altitude. True or false?

False. Temperature generally decreases by 6.5 degree celsius with every 1000m increase in altitude.

400

The movement of air from an area of high pressure to low pressure is known as...?

Wind.

500

During which part of the year does Singapore experience the northeast monsoon?

The year-end period of October-February.

Climatic types

100

This climate experiences four seasons: (a) Equatorial climate (b) Monsoon climate (c) Cool temperate climate

(c) Cool temperate climate

200

Which climatic type is Singapore classified under? (a) Equatorial climate (b) Monsoon climate (c) Cool temperate climate

(a) Equatorial climate.

300

How much rainfall does Singapore receive annually? (a) 710 millimeters (b) 940 millimeters (c) 2200 millimeters (d) 2900 millimeters

(c) 2200 millimeters

400

One of the following cities does not experience a monsoon climate: (a) Mumbai, India (b) Chittagong, Bangladesh (c) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

(c) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (equatorial climate) The first three cities all have distinct wet/dry seasons and an annual temperature range of about 6 degree celsius.

500

All deserts are hot. True or false?

False. Desert climates (arid climates) are defined by extremely low levels of precipitation. The Gobi Desert in Mongolia is an example of a cold desert.

Extreme weather conditions

100

Name one example of an extreme weather condition.

Drought, heat wave, floods, tropical cyclones, blizzards etc.

200

Increasing occurrences of extreme weather conditions is one of the impacts of climate change. True or false?

True. It is believed that higher land and sea surface temperatures has warmed the atmosphere, thus leading to more extreme weather events.

300

Hurricanes and tornados are similar extreme weather events. True or false?

False. Hurricanes are huge storm systems (many reaching 300 miles wide) while tornados are relatively smaller twisters generated by violent thunderstorms.

400

The Orchard Road floods in Singapore in 2010 was triggered by a tropical cyclone. True or false?

False. Singapore does not experience tropical cyclones. The Orchard Road floods were a result of intense rainfall.

500

The eye of the storm is where weather conditions are the roughest. True or false?

False. Dry, descending air gives rise to calm weather conditions in the eye of the storm.

Climate change

100

Mean global temperatures have been on the increase over the last century. True or false?

True. Over the last century, the earth has warmed by an average of 0.74 degree celsius.

200

This is the first time the earth is experiencing global warming. True or false?

False. The earth has experienced many cycles of global warming and global cooling.

300

The greenhouse effect is a human-induced process. True or false?

False. The greenhouse effect is a natural process. The enhanced greenhouse effect is human-induced.

400

Climate change will affect all places on earth negatively. True or false?

False. The impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed across space.

500

Singapore did not sign the Kyoto Protocol. True or false?

False. Singapore signed the Kyoto Protocol on 12 April 2006.