Lapse Rates The objective of this exercise is to calculate lapse rates. Recall,

Question

Lapse Rates The objective of this exercise is to calculate lapse rates. Recall, a lapse rate is a change in temperature over a change in height. Your lapse rates should have units of °C/1000m (decrease in temperature with height is positive; inversions have negative lapse rates). 1. A column of air that has a temperature of 13°C at 2000m and a temperature of 3°C at 3000m has a lapse rate of 10°C/1000m. Show how this is the case. 2. A column of air that has a temperature of 13°C at 3000m and a temperature of 3°C at 2000m has a lapse rate of -10°C/1000m. Show how this is the case. 3. What is the lapse rate (in units of °C/1000m) for a column of air that has a temperature of 17°C at 1000m and a temperature of 23°C at 0m? 4. What is the lapse rate (in units of °C/1000m) for a column of air that has a temperature of 17°C at 1000m and a temperature of 23°C at 2000m?

Explanation / Answer

1.

The column of air has a temperature of 13°C at 2000m

same column of air has a temperature of 3°C at 3000m has a lapse rate of 10°C/1000m.

lapse rate= Change in temperature/change in height = (13-3)/(3000-2000) = 10/1000 0r 10°C/1000m.

2.

The column of air that has a temperature of 13°C at 3000m

same column of air has a temperature of 3°C at 2000m

lapse rate = (3-13)/(3000-2000)=  -10/1000 = -10°C/1000m (This can be seen as the temperature is more at higher altitude)

3.

The column of air that has a temperature of 17°C at 1000m

same column of air has a temperature of 23°C at 0m

lapse rate = (23-17)/(1000-0)= 6/1000 = 6°C/1000m

4.

What is the lapse rate (in units of °C/1000m) for a column of air that has a temperature of 17°C at 1000m and a temperature of 23°C at 2000m

The column of air that has a temperature of 17°C at 1000m

same column of air has a temperature of 23°C at 2000m

lapse rate = (17-23)/(2000-1000)= -6/1000 = -6°C/1000m (Negative sigh is because of high temperature at higher altitude) )

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