Process Lapse Rate

This definition page has been automatically generated. You can help ExoDictionary by expanding, updating, or correcting it.

This autostub has not yet had its initial copyediting proof and may contain significant formatting and even factual errors. You can improve Exodictionary by cleaning up the page markup and verifying that the definition is correct and then removing this tag.

This autostub has not yet had its initial categorization proof and may be categorized incorrectly. You can improve Exodictionary by removing inappropriate categories and then removing this tag.

Process Lapse Rate

</dt>
The rate of decrease of the temperature T of an air parcel as it is lifted, -dT/dz , when z is altitude, or, occasionally, dT/dp , where p is pressure. </dd>
The concept may be applied to other atmospheric variables, e.g., the process lapse rate of density. The process lapse rate is determined by the character of the fluid processes and should be carefully distinguished from the environmental lapse rate, which is determined by the distribution of temperature in space. In the atmosphere the process lapse rate is usually assumed to be either the dry-adiabatic lapse rate or the saturation-adiabatic lapse rate. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use