Wc7 - latent heat and lapse rate

• latent heat


  the energy absorbed or released during a change in state
• lapse rate


  the rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude
• environmental lapse rate


  the rate of temperature decrease with increasing height in the troposphere
• dry adiabatic lapse rate


  the rate at which unsaturated air cools with altitude
• saturated adiabatic lapse rate


  rate at which saturated air cools with altitude
• dew point temperature


  the temperature at which saturation occurs
• condensation level


  the atmospheric level at which condensation occurs
• when air is stable:


  -rising warm air cools at rate quicker than the surrounding environment

  -cools at dry adiabatic lapse rate and sinks

  -precipitation not produced
• when air is unstable:


  -rising moist air cools at rate slower than surrounding environment

  -cools at saturated adiabatic lapse rate developing clouds

  -precipitation produced
• factors effecting rate of evaporation


  -temperature of environment

  -availability of water

  -humidity of air
• when does condensation and precipitation occur?


  when warm, moist air rises past condensation level, where surrounding environment is below dew point temperature