Which of the following explains why there is a difference between the moist and dry adiabatic rates?
A)Latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air.
B)Saturated air is always unstable.
C)An unsaturated air parcel expands more rapidly than a saturated air parcel.
D)Moist air weighs less than dry air.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The difference between the moist and dry adiabatic rates is due to the release of latent heat by a rising parcel of saturated air. As the saturated air rises, it cools, and the water vapor it contains begins to condense, releasing latent heat. This release of heat slows the rate of cooling of the saturated air parcel compared to that of a dry parcel, which does not contain sufficient water vapor to release latent heat. The result is that the moist adiabatic lapse rate is lower than the dry adiabatic lapse rate, and the temperature change of a rising parcel of moist air is less than that of a rising parcel of dry air.

Which of the Following Explains Why There Is a Difference