Eduqas A-Level Geography A110QS
Coastal LandscapesLandscape
Glaciated LandscapesLandscape
Changing Places
Water and Carbon Cycles
Global Migration
Global Governance of the Oceans
Tectonic Hazards
EcosystemsContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme
Development in an African ContextContemporary theme
Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme
Weather and ClimateContemporary theme
Geographical Skills
Water and Carbon Cycles
Cloud formation and theories of precipitation
- 2 things to know
- Component 2
Overview
Adiabatic cooling, dry adiabatic lapse rate and dew point.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Define adiabatic cooling.
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What three conditions are needed for precipitation to form?
Model answer
Air must be forced to rise, cool to its dew point and condense onto nuclei. Droplets must then grow large enough to fall against the updraught.
- 2
Define adiabatic cooling.
Model answer
Adiabatic cooling is the fall in temperature of a rising air parcel as it expands under lower pressure. Heat is not exchanged with the surrounding air.
- 3
State the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
Model answer
The dry adiabatic lapse rate is about 10 °C for every kilometre of ascent. Unsaturated air cools at this rate as it rises.
- 4
Why is the saturated adiabatic lapse rate lower than the dry rate?
Model answer
Condensation releases latent heat into the rising parcel, which offsets some of the cooling. The saturated rate is therefore around 5 to 6 °C per kilometre.
- 5
What is the dew point?
Model answer
The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins. Relative humidity reaches 100 per cent at that temperature.
- 6
What are condensation nuclei, and why are they needed?
Model answer
Condensation nuclei are microscopic particles of dust, salt, smoke or pollution suspended in the air. Water vapour needs a surface to condense onto, and nuclei provide it.
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