World Meteorological Day: The Air We Breathe

Wx and the City

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Today, meteorologists and weather and climate enthusiasts throughout the world will be celebrating World Meteorological Day, a holiday of the United Nation's World Meteorological Organization. You may want to greet and congratulate your local meteorologists today, but don't get too close...Some, like Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow, have been known to have bouts of uncontrollable laughter and giddiness every March 23.

In honor of World Meteorological Day, here are a few quiz questions related to this year's theme -- "Weather, Climate and the Air We Breathe"...

1. Which layer of the atmosphere contains weather and the air we breathe?
2. On average, what percentage of the air we breathe is oxygen?
3. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
4. T or F: Termites produce 11% of natural methane gas emissions globally.
5. T or F: Pollutants in the air can change cloud composition, precipitation cycles, other weather patterns and climate.
6. What air quality grade did the Washington-Baltimore area receive in 2008?
7. How much did the life expectancy of D.C. residents increase from 1980 to 2000 because of a reduction in particulate air pollution?

Keep reading for the full questions and answers, and more about World Meteorological Day...

1. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the air we breathe and the weather we see?
a. Stratosphere
b. Magnetosphere
c. Troposhere
d. Ionosphere

2. On average, what percentage of the air we breathe is oxygen?
a. 21%
b. 55%
c. 70%
d. 15%

3. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?
a. Water vapor
b. Carbon dioxide
c. Methane
d. Helium

4. True or False: Termites produce 11% of global methane gas emissions from natural sources.

5. True or False: Pollutants in the air can change cloud composition, precipitation cycles, other weather patterns and climate.

6. What air quality grade (based on ozone and particulate pollution) did the American Lung Association give the Washington-Baltimore metro area in 2008?
a. A
b. B
c. D
d. F

7. Based on a recent study on life expectancy performed by Harvard and Brigham Young universities, about how much did District residents' life expectancy increase from 1980 to 2000 because of a reduction in particulate air pollution?
a. 5 weeks
b. 7 months
c. 2 years
d. 14 days

Why is the air we breathe worth celebrating? Besides the obvious (we need it to live), it contains a precise recipe of gases that support all life on Earth. It cycles around and around, through oceans and forests and between humans, plants and animals. It creates skies that captivate us and drives Earth's climate. It is constantly in motion. Yet, because of this property, air transports other things -- like pollen and pollutants -- with it. We are inextricably linked to the rest of the planet through the air we breathe.

Thousands of meteorologists, climatologists, chemists, environmental scientists, etc., around the world monitor air -- its temperature, pressure, moisture content, quality, speed and its interaction with and effects on the biosphere.

Amazing, huh?

You can learn more about the air we breathe, how it's monitored and the current and past World Meteorological Day celebrations here (see related items on right side). To find out how you can protect the precious resource of air in our region, check out tips from the Environmental Protection Agency and Clean Air Partners.

Do you know a fun fact or story about air? (My personal favorite is the termite and methane fact...who would have thought?) Feel free to post it in the comments section below.

Answers: 1. c, Troposphere; 2. a, 21%; 3. d, Helium; 4. True (source); 5. True; 6. d, F (source); 7. b., 7 months (the full study can be found here)