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Which of the following statements is correct regarding the saturated adiabatic lapse rate? It is approximately...

  • A

    One half of the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

  • B

    One third of the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

  • C

    One quarter of the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

  • D

    The same as the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Adiabatic temperature changes occur when a gas is compressed or expanded with no external exchange of heat.

The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) – Lapse rate for rising dry (unsaturated) air.

  • Constant/fixed value of 1°C/100 m (about 3°C/1000 ft)

The Saturated Lapse Rate (SALR) – Lapse rate for rising saturated air.

  • Constant/fixed value of 0.6°C/100 m (about 1.8°C/1000 ft)

The Environment Lapse Rate (ELR) – Actual temperature profile of troposphere. It varies with time and position.

  • ISA ELR = 2°C per 1000 ft (0.65°C per 100 m).

On average, the SALR is about half the DALR in mid-range temperatures. This is because the release of latent heat from condensation slows the rate of cooling as saturated air rises.

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