If an unsaturated parcel of air at 30°C (86°F) at sea level rises to 1500 m (4921 feet), cools and becomes saturated, and then continues to rise, what will its temperature be at 2500 meters (8202 feet)? (dry adiabatic rate = 10°C / 1000 m; moist adiabatic rate = 6°C / 1000 m). The Effects of Rising an Unsaturated Parcel of Air at Sea Level

The Results of Rising an Unsaturated Parcel of Air at Sea Degree

An unsaturated parcel of air is an air mass that’s not fully saturated with water vapor. When an unsaturated parcel of air is heated, it expands and turns into much less dense. If the parcel of air at sea stage is at a temperature of 30°C (86°F) and rises to 1500 meters (4921 ft), it’ll cool and develop into saturated. If the parcel of air then continues to rise additional, its temperature will drop because of the dry adiabatic price of 10°C per 1000 meters (Environmental Safety Company, 2017). The temperature of an unsaturated parcel of air at 2500 meters (8202 ft) can be -4°C (25°F). The moist adiabatic price is the speed at which air cools as it’s lifted when it’s already saturated with water vapor. When saturated air is lifted, the cooling price is 6°C per 1000 meters (Nationwide Heart for Atmospheric Analysis, 2018). Which means the temperature of the parcel of air at 2500 meters can be -2°C (28°F) if it was already saturated at 1500 meters. Cont..