Which of the following describes what happens to the dew point temperature in a rising thermal?
A)It increases at a faster rate than the parcel temperature.
B)It increases at a slower rate than the parcel temperature.
C)It decreases at the same rate as the parcel temperature.
D)It decreases at a slower rate than the parcel temperature.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a rising thermal, the parcel of air expands and cools due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure with altitude. As the air cools, its capacity to hold moisture decreases, but the actual amount of moisture in the air parcel remains constant until condensation begins. The dew point temperature, which is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated and condensation begins, decreases as the air rises and cools. However, it decreases at a slower rate than the parcel temperature because the relative humidity of the air increases as the air cools, approaching 100% at the dew point. This means the difference between the air temperature and the dew point temperature narrows as the air rises.

Which of the Following Describes What Happens to the Dew