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Atmospheric Optics and Phenomena

Description: This quiz covers various atmospheric optics and phenomena, including rainbows, halos, mirages, and more.
Number of Questions: 14
Created by:
Tags: atmospheric optics meteorology weather phenomena
Attempted 0/14 Correct 0 Score 0

What causes rainbows?

  1. Refraction of sunlight through water droplets

  2. Reflection of sunlight off of clouds

  3. Diffraction of sunlight through dust particles

  4. Absorption of sunlight by water vapor


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Rainbows are caused by the refraction of sunlight through water droplets in the atmosphere. As sunlight passes through a water droplet, it is refracted, or bent. The different colors of light are refracted at different angles, causing them to separate into a rainbow.

What is the name of the halo that appears around the sun or moon?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Sundog


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The corona is a halo that appears around the sun or moon. It is caused by the diffraction of sunlight or moonlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

What causes mirages?

  1. Reflection of light off of water

  2. Refraction of light through air of different temperatures

  3. Diffraction of light through dust particles

  4. Absorption of light by water vapor


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Mirages are caused by the refraction of light through air of different temperatures. When light passes from one layer of air to another with a different temperature, it is refracted, or bent. This can cause objects to appear to be higher or lower than they actually are.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the sky to appear blue?

  1. Rayleigh scattering

  2. Mie scattering

  3. Tyndall scattering

  4. Raman scattering


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The sky appears blue due to Rayleigh scattering. Rayleigh scattering is the scattering of light by particles that are much smaller than the wavelength of light. In the case of the sky, the particles that scatter light are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the sky to appear red at sunrise and sunset?

  1. Rayleigh scattering

  2. Mie scattering

  3. Tyndall scattering

  4. Raman scattering


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The sky appears red at sunrise and sunset due to Mie scattering. Mie scattering is the scattering of light by particles that are about the same size as the wavelength of light. In the case of the sky at sunrise and sunset, the particles that scatter light are dust particles and water droplets.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a green flash at sunrise and sunset?

  1. Rayleigh scattering

  2. Mie scattering

  3. Tyndall scattering

  4. Raman scattering


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The green flash is caused by Rayleigh scattering. Rayleigh scattering is the scattering of light by particles that are much smaller than the wavelength of light. In the case of the green flash, the particles that scatter light are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a halo around the moon?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Moon dog


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The corona is a halo that appears around the sun or moon. It is caused by the diffraction of sunlight or moonlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a sun dog?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Sundog


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A sundog is a bright spot that appears to the left or right of the sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a parhelion?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Sundog


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

A parhelion is a bright spot that appears directly above or below the sun. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a circumzenithal arc?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Circumzenithal arc


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A circumzenithal arc is a colorful arc that appears around the zenith. It is caused by the refraction of sunlight through ice crystals in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a glory?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Glory


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

A glory is a colorful ring that appears around the shadow of an observer's head. It is caused by the diffraction of sunlight through water droplets in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a crepuscular ray?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Crepuscular ray


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Crepuscular rays are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from the sun at sunrise and sunset. They are caused by the scattering of sunlight through dust particles and water droplets in the atmosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a noctilucent cloud?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Noctilucent cloud


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Noctilucent clouds are thin, wispy clouds that appear at high altitudes in the mesosphere. They are caused by the condensation of water vapor on ice crystals in the mesosphere.

What is the name of the phenomenon that causes the appearance of a polar stratospheric cloud?

  1. Corona

  2. Sun dog

  3. Parhelion

  4. Polar stratospheric cloud


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Polar stratospheric clouds are thin, wispy clouds that appear in the stratosphere at high latitudes. They are caused by the condensation of water vapor on ice crystals in the stratosphere.

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