Geography & Earth
Intermediate

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Rate air cools with altitude when rising dry.

Formula

Γ≈9.8 °C/km\Gamma \approx 9.8\,\degree C/km

Variables

\GammaLapse rate

Example

Air cools as it rises

Did You Know?

Air cools about 6.5°C per kilometre of altitude, which is why tall mountains keep snowy peaks in summer.

atmosphere

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