Weather Dictionary / Glossary of Terms

Adiabatic Lapse Rate


   Weather TermDescription / Definition
   Adiabatic Lapse Rate The rate of decrease of temperature experienced by a parcel of air when it is lifted in the atmosphere under the restriction that it cannot exchange heat with its environment. For parcels that remain unsaturated during lifting, the (dry adiabatic) lapse rate is 9.8°C per kilometer.


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Data courtesy of NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration