Collecting Data about Weather: Mastery Test

Select the correct answer.

Richard reads 28.9 inches of mercury on a barometer, which is 1 inch lower than normal atmospheric pressure. The temperature is 40°F. What type of weather is most likely to occur where Richard is?

A. Fair and dry
B. Drought
C. Rain shower
D. Snowfall



Answer :

To determine the most likely type of weather Richard will experience based on the given data, follow these steps:

1. Understand the Atmospheric Pressure Reading:
- The barometer reading is 28.9 inches of mercury.
- Normal atmospheric pressure is 29.9 inches of mercury.
- Since 28.9 is 1 inch lower than the normal pressure (29.9), it indicates that the pressure is lower than normal.

2. Interpret the Lower Atmospheric Pressure:
- Lower-than-normal atmospheric pressure often suggests that the weather conditions are likely to be wet.

3. Consider the Temperature:
- The temperature is given as 40°F.
- Since 40°F is above the freezing point of water (32°F), it indicates that any precipitation is more likely to be rain rather than snow.

4. Determine the Type of Weather:
- Given that the atmospheric pressure is low (suggesting wet conditions) and the temperature is above freezing, the most likely type of weather is a rain shower.

Therefore, the correct answer is:
C. rain shower