A cold air mass that is warmed at its base from contact with the warm ground will have its lapse rate:
A) compressed.
B) changed to an inversion.
C) remain constant.
D) decreased.
E) increased.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lapse rate of a cold air mass that is warmed at its base from contact with the warm ground will increase. This is because as the air mass becomes warmer, it becomes less dense and more buoyant, leading to greater vertical movement and a decrease in pressure aloft. This in turn leads to a greater temperature gradient and a steeper lapse rate.

A Cold Air Mass That Is Warmed at Its Base