University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Howard College School of Agricultural, Earth &
Environmental Sciences
ENVS210: Biogeography of Southern Africa
SI Session 1 Climatology Revision
Section A- Multiple choice
1. Which of the following is the best description of a tropical storm/cyclone?
a. A high-pressure system characterised by strong winds and drought.
b. A low-pressure system characterised by strong winds and heavy rainfall.
c. A high-pressure system characterised by strong winds and tornadoes.
d. A low-pressure system characterised by strong winds and drought.
2. What is the minimum temperature at which the ocean must be for a
tropical storm/cyclone to form?
a. 24-25°C
b. 26-27°C
c. 28-29°C
d. 30-31°C
3. Which of the following describes the ideal conditions for a tropical
storm/cyclone to form?
a. Cool oceans, at the Equator, high wind shear, where winds converge
b. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, high wind shear, where
winds converge
c. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, low wind shear, where winds
converge
d. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, low wind shear, where winds
diverge
4. Which of the following has the highest wind speed?
a. Tropical cyclones
b. Tropical depressions
c. Tropical storms
d. Super typhoons
5. What is wind shear?
, a. Where winds are close to the ground
b. Where winds are powerful
c. Where winds blow across one another
d. Where winds are weak
6. Which of the following about the Coriolis effect is FALSE?
a. The Coriolis effect is the main reason why tropical storms/cyclones ‘spin’
b. The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms/cyclones to spin anti-clockwise
in the southern hemisphere.
c. The Earth spins faster at the Equator than at higher latitudes such as
30°N.
d. The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms/cyclones to spin anti-clockwise
in the northern hemisphere.
7. When a tropical cyclone moves onto land, it declines in intensity. Which
of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch
a. friction
b. lack of warm, moist air
c. heating from below by the land surface
d. both a and b
8. Why is very humid air near the surface a necessary ingredient for severe
thunderstorms
a. high humidity makes the air more dense
b. more latent heat is then available as energy for the storm
c. high humidity strengthens the cold front
d. high humidity makes the rising air cool more rapidly
9. Which of the following statements is NOT true of tornadoes
a. occur most frequently in the spring of the year
b. usually occur along the warm front of a midlatitude cyclone
c. most common in the Midwest and Great Plains
d. associated with cumulonimbus clouds
10. A tornado is a small, very intense example of the
a. cyclone
b. anticyclone
Howard College School of Agricultural, Earth &
Environmental Sciences
ENVS210: Biogeography of Southern Africa
SI Session 1 Climatology Revision
Section A- Multiple choice
1. Which of the following is the best description of a tropical storm/cyclone?
a. A high-pressure system characterised by strong winds and drought.
b. A low-pressure system characterised by strong winds and heavy rainfall.
c. A high-pressure system characterised by strong winds and tornadoes.
d. A low-pressure system characterised by strong winds and drought.
2. What is the minimum temperature at which the ocean must be for a
tropical storm/cyclone to form?
a. 24-25°C
b. 26-27°C
c. 28-29°C
d. 30-31°C
3. Which of the following describes the ideal conditions for a tropical
storm/cyclone to form?
a. Cool oceans, at the Equator, high wind shear, where winds converge
b. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, high wind shear, where
winds converge
c. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, low wind shear, where winds
converge
d. Warm oceans, between 5° and 30° latitude, low wind shear, where winds
diverge
4. Which of the following has the highest wind speed?
a. Tropical cyclones
b. Tropical depressions
c. Tropical storms
d. Super typhoons
5. What is wind shear?
, a. Where winds are close to the ground
b. Where winds are powerful
c. Where winds blow across one another
d. Where winds are weak
6. Which of the following about the Coriolis effect is FALSE?
a. The Coriolis effect is the main reason why tropical storms/cyclones ‘spin’
b. The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms/cyclones to spin anti-clockwise
in the southern hemisphere.
c. The Earth spins faster at the Equator than at higher latitudes such as
30°N.
d. The Coriolis effect causes tropical storms/cyclones to spin anti-clockwise
in the northern hemisphere.
7. When a tropical cyclone moves onto land, it declines in intensity. Which
of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch
a. friction
b. lack of warm, moist air
c. heating from below by the land surface
d. both a and b
8. Why is very humid air near the surface a necessary ingredient for severe
thunderstorms
a. high humidity makes the air more dense
b. more latent heat is then available as energy for the storm
c. high humidity strengthens the cold front
d. high humidity makes the rising air cool more rapidly
9. Which of the following statements is NOT true of tornadoes
a. occur most frequently in the spring of the year
b. usually occur along the warm front of a midlatitude cyclone
c. most common in the Midwest and Great Plains
d. associated with cumulonimbus clouds
10. A tornado is a small, very intense example of the
a. cyclone
b. anticyclone
