Chapter 6 Flashcards
Air parcel
Distinct blob of air that moves through the atmosphere
Adiabatic process
When a parcel of air doesn’t mix with its environment or exchange heat energy
Lapse rate
Rate where the temperature decreases (lapses) with increasing altitude
Environment
The atmosphere outside the air parcel
Unstable environment
When the air parcel is warmer than the environment and keeps rising
Stable environment
The air parcel is cooler than its environment and sink back to its original position
Conditionally unstable
When a saturated air parcel is warmer than its surrounding environment
What is Lifting Condensation Level
Seen as the cloud base
Lifting condensation level
If the air is lifted to the cloud base
Level of free convection
The level where the parcel becomes buoyant
Lifting mechanisms
Whatever lifts air parcels
Upload
When the wind is forced upward on the mountain
Convection
Air that is rapidly rising, and air going down
