Chapter 8 : Climate FORMULA SHEET FOR CALCULATION QUESTIONS

1) Environmental Lapse Rate (Used to calculate: Temperature at a certain altitude) Definition: The rate of which temperature change begins at the ground (or sea level) and continues on to the top of troposphere = 6.4 C for every 1000 m () Temperature at a certain altitude = ground temperautre 6.4C 1000 2) Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (Used to calculate: The cooling of unsaturated air molecules due to thinning of air) Definition: The rate of which unsaturated air molecules cool due to the thinning of air and spreading of air molecules (Remember: No heat is lost from the air molecules itself) = 10 C for every 1000 m () Temperature of unsaturated air molecules = ground temperautre 10C 1000 3) Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate (Used to calculate: The cooling of saturated air molecules due to thinning of air) Definition: The decrease in temperature of saturated air when water vapor has expended much of the energy in the molecules forcing condensation of some form =3 C for every 1000 m () Temperature of saturated air molecules = ground temperautre 3C 1000

Geography 12 Chapter 8 Climate Formula Sheet Page 1 of 1 (KWP)