Final answer:
To determine the approximate altitude of the base of cumuliform clouds, calculate the dew point temperature using the given temperature and dewpoint values. Then, use the dew point temperature to find the altitude by dividing it by the rate at which air cools in the atmosphere. In this case, the base of cumuliform clouds would be approximately 13,000 feet above the surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the approximate altitude of the base of cumuliform clouds, we need to calculate the dew point of the given temperature and dewpoint values.
The dew point is the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor, and clouds form when the air rises and cools to its dew point.
So, we can use the formula for dew point temperature to find the difference between the surface air temperature and the dewpoint:
Dew point temperature = Surface air temperature - Dewpoint
Considering the given surface air temperature of 82°F and dewpoint of 38°F, the dew point temperature would be 82°F - 38°F, which equals 44°F.
Now, we know that as air rises in the atmosphere, it cools at an average rate of 3.5°F per 1000 feet.
So, to find the altitude at which the base of cumuliform clouds would form, we can divide the dew point temperature by 3.5°F to get the number of 1000-feet increments:
Expected altitude = Dew point temperature / 3.5°F
Substituting the dew point temperature of 44°F, we get 44°F / 3.5°F
= 12.57.
Since we're looking for an approximate altitude, we can round the value to the nearest whole number.
Therefore, the pilot would expect the base of cumuliform clouds to be approximately 13,000 feet above the surface.