Q 01/05

Most major Atlantic hurricanes begin as waves of low pressure drifting west off which continent?

A) Africa

B) South America

C) Europe

D) North America

Answer · why

A) Africa

Africa's easterly waves seed about 85% of the Atlantic's major hurricanes, yet the dry, dusty Saharan air that sometimes follows them out to sea can s...

Q 02/05

Which five-category scale rates hurricanes by sustained wind speed?

A) Enhanced Fujita scale

B) Beaufort scale

C) Richter scale

D) Saffir-Simpson scale

Answer · why

D) Saffir-Simpson scale

Saffir-Simpson scale categories count sustained wind alone, leaving out storm surge and rain flooding, which is why a storm with a low category number...

Q 03/05

In which ocean basin does a hurricane-strength storm go by the name typhoon?

A) Northwest Pacific

B) Northeast Pacific

C) North Atlantic

D) South Atlantic

Answer · why

A) Northwest Pacific

Northwest Pacific storms of hurricane strength are called typhoons, and location is the only difference: a hurricane that crosses the International Da...

Q 04/05

As Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, which stadium sheltered thousands of people who had no way out?

A) The Superdome

B) The Astrodome

C) Tiger Stadium

D) The Georgia Dome

Answer · why

A) The Superdome

The Superdome was the city's shelter of last resort; the storm tore open sections of its roof, and with supplies running short the crowd inside waited...

Q 05/05

The 'divine wind' typhoons of 1274 and 1281 are said to have wrecked the invasion fleets of which grandson of Genghis Khan?

A) Kublai Khan

B) Hulagu Khan

C) Batu Khan

D) Mongke Khan

Answer · why

A) Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan sent both fleets against Kyushu, and both are said to have been broken up by storms; the defenders credited the gods, and their word for t...