Which of the following conditions describes when a parcel of saturated air releases the most latent heat?
A)when the air parcel is rising and cold
B)when the air parcel is rising and warm
C)when the air parcel is sinking and warm
D)when the air parcel is sinking and cold

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the air parcel is rising and warm, it expands and cools slowly due to adiabatic cooling. As it cools, it becomes closer to its dew point and becomes less saturated. This leads to an increase in the amount of latent heat released as water vapor condenses into liquid water.

Which of the Following Conditions Describes When a Parcel of Saturated