MasteryExams
Geography • Physical GeographyHard

The adiabatic lapse rate of temperature for rising unsaturated (dry) parcels of air is approximately:

A. 6.5 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters
B. 9.8 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters✓ Correct Answer
C. 3.5 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters
D. 12.0 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters

💡 Solution & Explanation

The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately 9.8 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters, representing the rate at which rising unsaturated air cools due to expansion under lower atmospheric pressure. Values like 6.5 degree Celsius per 1,000 meters instead represent the average environmental lapse rate of the troposphere. Meteorological studies frequently use these lapse rates to determine atmospheric stability.

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