Thunderstorms and Contrails Quiz

What is the primary process responsible for charge separation in a thunderstorm?

• Evaporation of water droplets

• Collisions between ice crystals and graupel

• Condensation of water vapor

• Friction between air masses

In the charge separation process, what charge does graupel typically acquire?

• Positive

• Negative

• Neutral

• Alternating

Approximately how fast does a return stroke travel?

• 100 km/s

• 1,000 km/s

• 100,000 km/s

• 300,000 km/s

What is the typical temperature of the plasma channel during a return stroke?

• 5,000°F

• 15,000°F

• 30,000°F

• 50,000°F

What is the primary reason for the tripolar charge structure in thunderstorms?

• Variations in air pressure

• Differences in humidity

• Collisions between different types of precipitation particles

• Temperature gradients within the cloud

What are contrails primarily made of?

• Dust and smog

• Liquid water and pollution

• Ice crystals and soot particles

• Oxygen and nitrogen

When were contrails first discovered?

• During World War I

• In the 1920s during high-altitude flights

• In the 1950s with the invention of jet engines

• In the 1800s by balloon pilots

Why did military personnel become more concerned with contrails during WWII?

• They were polluting the atmosphere

• They caused engine failures

• They revealed the location of planes to enemies

• They interfered with radio communication

What determines how long a contrail lasts in the sky?

• The size of the airplane

• The amount of fuel burned

• The speed of the aircraft

• The humidity and turbulence in the atmosphere

What is the difference between Persistent (Non-Spreading) and Persistent (Spreading) Contrails?

• Only the spreading ones are visible

• The non-spreading form at higher altitudes

• Spreading contrails form in unstable or turbulent air

• Non-spreading contrails are made of liquid water