A parcel of air starts at the earth\'s surface where its temperature is 30 degre

Question

A parcel of air starts at the earth's surface where its temperature is 30 degree C and relative humidity is 37.5%. At first, something forces the parcel to rise from the surface; eventually it rises to 4 kilometers. After the parcel reaches the saturation point, it cools at a wet adiabatic lapse rate of 5 degree C per kilometer Using appropriate tables and graphs from your lab book, fill in the missing values in the unshaded spaces of the table below. What is the height of the lifting condensation level? Is the atmosphere in this example stable or unstable? Explain

Explanation / Answer

2.Applying Lawrence's formula, hLCL=(20+T/5)(100-RH)

where,hLCL is height of LCL

T=30 ( temperature at ground level in celsius)

RH= 37.5 ( ground level relative humidity in percent)

hLCL=(20+30/5)(100+37.5)

=(20+6)(137.5)

=26x137.5

=3575 m

3. The stability of atmosphere can be dtermined with the help of Lifted Index (LI) which is the temperature difference between an air parcel lifted adiabatically and environment.

If the value of LI is positive then atmosphere is stable.

Here, at 4 km height, LI = 0oC-(-14oC)=14oC

so, it is an example of stable atmosphere.

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