This exercise focuses on one of those mechanisms, orographic lifting. This proce

Question

This exercise focuses on one of those mechanisms, orographic lifting. This process explains precipitation patterns over much of the western United States as well as many other regions in the world. The purpose of this exercise is to provide you with a chance to work with the concepts of lapse rates, atmospheric stability, condensation, and temperature by following conditions in a parcel of air as it is forced by wind to rise over a topographic barrier, and then descends again down the leeward slope.

The following figure represents a mountain 4 km in height with a base level at 0 km above sea level. The letters indicate different elevations on the windward and leeward sides of the mountain.

For this exercise we will use cooling rates of 10°C/km for the DAR and 5°C/km for the MAR to simplify the calculations. For questions 1–7, suppose that a parcel of air at point A is 25°C, the ELR is 7°C/km, and the dew point is 5°C.

Explain why a rising parcel of air cools more slowly when it reaches its dew point. (explain this in greater detail, including the specific mechanism that causes the rate of cooling to change. Think about the role of latent heat)

Calculate specific answers for

What will be the temperature of the parcel of air when it reaches the top of the mountain (Point E)?

What will be the temperature of the parcel of air when it reaches the bottom of the leeward slope (Point I)?

Dew points can be quite variable from place to place and over time. What would the dew point need to be in this example to produce a temperature of 0°C at the top of the mountain (Point E)?

you need to explain this in greater detail, including the specific mechanism that causes the rate of cooling to change. Think about the role of latent heat (-1).

Why does sinking air get warmer as it descends?

What is the term for the dry areas leeward of mountains such as this one?

Would you expect to find more vegetation on the windward or leeward side of this mountain? Why?

Now suppose the parcel of air at point A is 15°C rather than 25°C. All other conditions are the same. Again indicate where clouds would begin to form, what the temperature of the parcel would be at the top of the mountain (Point E), and what the temperature of the parcel would be at the bottom of the leeward side (Point I).

This exercise focuses on one of those mechanisms, orographic lifting. This process explains precipitation patterns over much of the western United States as well as many other regions in the world. The purpose of this exercise is to provide you with a chance to work with the concepts of lapse rates, atmospheric stability, condensation, and temperature by following conditions in a parcel of air as it is forced by wind to rise over a topographic barrier, and then descends again down the leeward slope.

The following figure represents a mountain 4 km in height with a base level at 0 km above sea level. The letters indicate different elevations on the windward and leeward sides of the mountain.

For this exercise we will use cooling rates of 10°C/km for the DAR and 5°C/km for the MAR to simplify the calculations. For questions 1–7, suppose that a parcel of air at point A is 25°C, the ELR is 7°C/km, and the dew point is 5°C.

Explain why a rising parcel of air cools more slowly when it reaches its dew point. (explain this in greater detail, including the specific mechanism that causes the rate of cooling to change. Think about the role of latent heat)

Calculate specific answers for

What will be the temperature of the parcel of air when it reaches the top of the mountain (Point E)?

What will be the temperature of the parcel of air when it reaches the bottom of the leeward slope (Point I)?

Dew points can be quite variable from place to place and over time. What would the dew point need to be in this example to produce a temperature of 0°C at the top of the mountain (Point E)?

you need to explain this in greater detail, including the specific mechanism that causes the rate of cooling to change. Think about the role of latent heat (-1).

Why does sinking air get warmer as it descends?

What is the term for the dry areas leeward of mountains such as this one?

Would you expect to find more vegetation on the windward or leeward side of this mountain? Why?

Now suppose the parcel of air at point A is 15°C rather than 25°C. All other conditions are the same. Again indicate where clouds would begin to form, what the temperature of the parcel would be at the top of the mountain (Point E), and what the temperature of the parcel would be at the bottom of the leeward side (Point I).

Explanation / Answer

Answer- In above question the phenomenon of Orographic precipitation is shown. it has been clear heavy rainfall occurs on the windward side of the mountain due to the presence of mountain barrier. and rainshadow effect which are characterized by the no or low precipitation on the leeward side of the mountain.

it given that the height of the mountain is 4km or 4000m with 0km base level. Dry adiabatic lapse (DAL) rate is 10C/km and Moist adiabatic lapse( MAL) rate is 5C/km

the temperature of rising air at the point A is 25degree celcius and Dew point temperature is 5C

when rising air reach to its dew point temperature it reaches to that temperature that air become to condense outand forms the cloud droplets becomes moist and latent energy released by the condensation process is added to the air.the relative humidity of air reach 100%.and it becomes saturated or moist and it cools more slowy in the comparision of dry air. dry air cools more rapidly in the comparision of moist air.

the temperature at point E at the top of the mountain will be = if the air is dry then temperature of air would be at point E will be = -15C because dry adiabatic lapse rate is 10C/km

and it air is moist then temperature of the air will be at the top of mountain at point E will be = 5C because moist adiabatic lapse rate is 5C/mk

As we all know on decresing elevation temperature of the air increases so on the leeward side the temperature of the air will be 25C

cold air is denser than warm air and when the sinking of cold air occurs it get warmer as comes in the contact of warm surface. then these warm current are replaced by cold air current and these warm air current becomes lighter and uplifted by these cold current. this mechanism is called convection current.

term for the dry areas leeward of mountains is called rainshadown effect. because of no precipitation on the leeward side of the mountain

we expect more vegetation on the windward side of the mountain which gets more precipitation due to prevailing air currents and get maximum precipitation and on other side leeward side chactersize by no or little vegetation because of no precipitation.

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