Question

On a warm summer day in Colorado, a parcel of air rises over the Rocky Mountains. It cools at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.5°F per 1000 feet until it reaches its dew point. If the ground temperature is 76°F, what is the dew point temperature?

Answer 1

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins to form. To find the dew point temperature, we can use the formula Dew Point = Ground temperature - (Lapse rate * Altitude). This formula allows us to calculate the dew point temperature at a specific altitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which the air becomes saturated and condensation begins to form. In this case, the air cools at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.5°F per 1000 feet until it reaches its dew point. To find the dew point temperature, we need to determine when the parcel of air reaches saturation.

Given that the ground temperature is 76°F, let's assume that the air parcel begins at this temperature and rises. As the air parcel rises, it will cool at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.5°F per 1000 feet. Let's say the air parcel rises to a certain altitude where its temperature drops to its dew point.

To find the dew point temperature, we can use the following formula:

Dew Point = Ground temperature - (Lapse rate * Altitude)

Substituting the known values, we have:

Dew Point = 76°F - (5.5°F/1000ft * Altitude)

Since we don't have the exact altitude, we can't determine the dew point temperature precisely. However, this formula allows us to calculate the dew point temperature at a specific altitude.

Answer 2

To find the dew point temperature, we need to determine the temperature at which the air reaches 100% relative humidity. Given that the air cools at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.5°F per 1000 feet until it reaches its dew point, and the ground temperature is 76°F, we can calculate the difference in temperature between the ground and the dew point. However, since the height at which the air reaches its dew point is not provided in the question, we are unable to determine the exact dew point temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the dew point temperature, we need to determine the temperature at which the air reaches 100% relative humidity. Given that the air cools at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 5.5°F per 1000 feet until it reaches its dew point, and the ground temperature is 76°F, we can calculate the difference in temperature between the ground and the dew point. Since each 1000 feet is associated with a temperature drop of 5.5°F, we can set up the following equation:

(76°F - T dew) / (5.5°F/1000ft) = H,

where T dew is the dew point temperature and H is the height at which the air reaches 100% relative humidity. Rearranging the equation, we have:

T dew = 76°F - (H * 5.5°F/1000ft).

Since the question does not provide the height at which the air reaches its dew point, we are unable to determine the exact dew point temperature in this case.