Refer to the figure below. In air circulation at the tropics, what is responsible for the rain?
A) As air warms in the tropics, it drops rain when it becomes supersaturated.
B) As air rises and cools, it holds less moisture and drops the excess as rain.
C) As air rises, it becomes less dense and therefore less able to hold moisture.
D) As air rises, it meets sunlight entering the atmosphere, which stimulates rain.
E) As air descends, it becomes warmer, and warm air is less able to hold moisture.

Question

Refer to the figure below.  In air circulation at the tropics, what is responsible for the rain?
A) As air warms in the tropics, it drops rain when it becomes supersaturated. 
B) As air rises and cools, it holds less moisture and drops the excess as rain. 
C) As air rises, it becomes less dense and therefore less able to hold moisture. 
D) As air rises, it meets sunlight entering the atmosphere, which stimulates rain. 
E) As air descends, it becomes warmer, and warm air is less able to hold moisture.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As air rises and cools, it holds less moisture and drops the excess as rain. This process is often referred to as adiabatic cooling, and it is responsible for producing the majority of precipitation in the tropics. As warm, moist air rises, it cools and loses some of its moisture, which condenses into liquid droplets that eventually fall as rain.

Refer to the Figure Below