Assume a warm air parcel,at sea level,has a temperature of 21°C and begins to rise upward.Assume it becomes saturated at 1000 m altitude,and continues to rise to 2000 m altitude.What would the approximate temperature of the parcel be at an elevation of 2000 m?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As the warm air parcel rises and reaches 1000 m, it becomes saturated and condensation occurs. This process releases latent heat, which slows the rate of cooling of the parcel. As a result, the temperature of the parcel decreases at a rate of approximately 5.5°C per 1000 m of ascent, which is known as the dry adiabatic lapse rate. So, at 1000 m altitude, the temperature of the parcel would be around 15.5°C. As the parcel continues to rise to 2000 m, the same rate of cooling applies, so the approximate temperature of the parcel at 2000 m altitude would be around 10°C (i.e. 15.5°C - 5.5°C). Therefore, the best choice is B.

Assume a Warm Air Parcel,at Sea Level,has a Temperature of 21°C