MasteryExams
Geography • Physical GeographyMedium

What term is used in meteorology to describe the height above sea level at which condensation of rising unsaturated air begins, corresponding to the base of cumulus clouds?

A. Tropopause level
B. Condensation level or lifting condensation level✓ Correct Answer
C. Inversion layer height
D. Equilibrium level

💡 Solution & Explanation

The lifting condensation level represents the exact altitude at which a rising parcel of unsaturated air cools sufficiently by adiabatic expansion to reach saturation, forming cloud bases. Tropopause marks the upper boundary of the troposphere rather than the cloud condensation base. In climatology exams, understanding this level helps explain adiabatic lapse rates and cumulus cloud formation.

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