Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m and a dry adiabatic of 10°C,what would what would happen if unsaturated air that had a temperature of 25°C at the surface were forced to rise 2000 m in the air ?
A)It would keep rising because it would be less dense than the surrounding air.
B)It would sink back to the surface because it was more dense than the surrounding air.
C)It would be warmer than the air around it so it would keep rising.
D)It would be colder than the air around it so it would sink.
E)It would have the same temperature and density as the surrounding air so it would stay at that height.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The unsaturated air cools at the dry adiabatic rate of 10°C/1000 m, so after rising 2000 m, it would cool by 20°C to 5°C. The surrounding air cools at the environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m, so it would be 15°C at 2000 m. The rising air is colder and denser than the surrounding air, causing it to sink back.

Given an Environmental Lapse Rate of 5°C/1000 M and a Dry