The rate at which temperature decreases with height in the atmosphere is called the ________.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks for the term that describes how temperature changes with altitude in the atmosphere.
Since no answer choices were provided, we can rely on the standard meteorological term.
The correct concept is that the rate at which temperature decreases with height is called the lapse rate. In general terms, lapse rate describes the vertical gradient of temperature with respect to height.
In a bit more detail, the environmental lapse rate (the actual rate in the atmosphere at a given time and place) is typically about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer in the troposphere, though it can vary. Other related terms the student might encounter include the dry adiabatic lapse rate (about 9.8 C/km) and the moist (saturated) adiabatic lapse rate (which is lower, due to latent heat release).
If this were a multiple-choice question, plausible distractors would include phrases like 'rate of pressure change with height' or 'temperature increase with height,' which would be incorrect because they describe different processes.
Thus, the defining term for how temperature changes with altitude is lapse rate.

Section Merge: METEO 3 (SP25) Lesson 3 Quiz

The rate at which temperature decreases with height in the atmosphere is called the ________.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Now suppose the same parcel in the previous question was moist (saturated) instead of dry, but still had a temperature of 6°C at 1000 meters. If it sinks to the surface, it will have a temperature of:

The figure above shows five environmental lapse rates (ELRs). Which ELR shows an isothermal layer (i.e., temperature remaining constant with height)?

Environmental lapse rate is the measure of the rate of temperature decrease with height in the atmosphere at a specific time and location.

If the environmental lapse rate is greater than the adiabatic lapse rate, the atmosphere is unstable.

Environmental lapse rate is the measure of the rate of temperature increase with height in the atmosphere at a specific time and location.

The lapse rate observed by a radiosonde is called the _____.

To what does 6.4 C ° /1000 m refer?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler