GEOG 131 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.5, 4.6A, 4.16: Air1, Adiabatic Process, Fluid Parcel
Document Summary
Adiabatic- when there is no energy exchanged between the parcel and its surroundings. Lapse rate- we can calculate how much a rising air parcel cools for a given rise in elevation: units of degrees per vertical distance. Unsaturated adiabatic lapse rate- constant lapse rate: applies everywhere adiabatically rising air remains unsaturated, 10c/1000km. Saturated adiabatic lapse rate- rate at which saturated air cools with adiabatic ascent: 6c/1000km. Environmental lapse rate- temperature change with height for air that is not rising or sinking. Negative lapse rate- where temperature increases with increasing height. Free convection- rising of air due to its lower density than air around it: aka convection. Unstable- rising air parcel that remains warmer than its surroundings and will continue rising. Conditionally unstable- addition of moisture to the air increases the likelihood for rising motions and other unstable conditions. Stable atmosphere- air parcel would cease rising because it is cooler and has a higher density than the surrounding air.
