College

An unsaturated parcel of air at a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius rises 1500 meters into the atmosphere. At 1000 meters, it achieves saturation. What is the temperature of this parcel at 1500 meters in degrees Celsius?

Answer :

Final answer:

By applying principles of lapse rates and points of saturation (dew point), we calculate that the temperature of the air parcel at 1500m would be 7.5°C.

Explanation:

This question deals with concepts related to meteorology - specifically the temperatures of air masses as they ascend in the atmosphere.

To calculate the temperature of the unsaturated parcel of air, one generally applies the principle of the lapse rate, which represents the rate at which air temperature decreases with increasing altitude. The average lapse rate in the troposphere is about 6.5°C per 1000m. But we have to consider the fact that at 1000m the air parcel achieves saturation (it hits its dew point at 10.0°C).

So, starting from 23°C, if we use the lapse rate, by the time the air parcel hits 1000 meters, it would be at 23 - (6.5 * 1) = 16.5°C. But since this parcel hits saturation at 1000m, its temperature would be at the dew point, which is 10°C.

After the dew point, the rate at which the temperature decreases is called the saturated lapse rate. This rate averages about 5°C per 1000m. So, for the remaining 500m (1500m - 1000m) we would calculate the decrease in temperature as 5 * 0.5 = 2.5°C. Therefore, the temperature of the parcel at 1500m would be 10 - 2.5 = 7.5°C.

Learn more about Lapse Rates and Dew Point here:

https://brainly.com/question/14394445

#SPJ1