In Fig. 6.30, a radiosonde is released and sends back temperature data as shown in the diagram. (This is the environment temperature.)
(a) Calculate the environmental lapse rate from the surface up to 3000 m.
(b) What type of atmospheric stability (stable or unstable) does the sounding indicate? Suppose the wind is blowing from the west and a parcel of surface air with a temperature of 10°C and a dew point of 2°C begins to rise upward along the western (windward) side of the mountain.
(c) What is the parcel’s relative humidity at 0 m (pressure 1013 mb) before rising? (Hint: See Chapter 4, p. 107.)
(d) As the air parcel rises, at approximately what altitude would condensation begin and a cloud start to form?
(e) What is the air temperature and dew point of the rising air at the base of the cloud?
(f) What is the air temperature and dew point of the rising air inside the cloud at an altitude of 3000 m? (Use the moist adiabatic rate of 6°C per 1000 m.)
(g) At an altitude of 3000 m, how does the air temperature inside the cloud compare with the temperature outside the cloud, as measured by the radiosonde? What type of atmospheric stability does this suggest? Explain.
(h) At an altitude of 3000 m, would you expect the cloud to continue to develop vertically? Explain.