The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

04/25/26

“How much cooler does the atmosphere become as we rise with height if there is no heat exchange?”

Generally, air in the troposphere becomes cooler as we go higher because the decreasing pressure leads to volumetric expansion that takes away internal heat. If no heat is exchanged with the surroundings, then condensation will not occur, and no change of moisture will occur. This rate, at which air changes temperature,  around -9.8 degrees Celsius per kilometer of height, is called The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate.