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Sample Questions - Lapse Rate

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197 views

Sample Questions - Lapse Rate

Uploaded by

tazbid.farhad24
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

At what altitude would the temperature be 10°C, given that the temperature at sea
level is 25°C and the lapse rate is 6.5°C per 1 km?
Altitude = (Temperature at sea level − Target Temperature) / Lapse Rate
= (25°C - 10°C) / 6.5°C/km
= 2.31 km (Ans:)

2. A geologist wants to find out the height of a mountain in feet. He knows that the
temperature at the base of the mountain is 77oF and the temperature at the top is
24.8oF. What is the total height of the mountain?

a) 14,500 km
b) 14,500 feet
c) 18,792 km
d) 18, 792 feet

Ans: - b) 14,500 feet

Lapse Rate in feet = Change of 3.6oF for every 1,000 feet.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 → 77 − 24. 8 → 52. 2o𝐹


3. 6o𝐹 →1, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
1,000
52. 2o𝐹 → 3.6 ×52. 2 →14, 500 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡

3. Calculate the rise in temperature as a hiker descends from the top of a mountain of
height 2 km above the ground, to its base which is 0.5 km above the ground.

Ans: 9.75oC

Lapse Rate in km = Change of 6.5oC for every 1 km.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛→ 2 𝑘𝑚 − 0. 5 𝑘𝑚→ 1. 5 𝑘𝑚


1 𝑘𝑚 → 6. 5o𝐶
6.5
1. 5 𝑘𝑚 → 1
×1. 5→9. 75o𝐶

4. The temperature at sea level is 30°C, and the lapse rate varies with altitude. The
lapse rate is 6.5°C change per 1 km for the first 2 km, then changes to 4.5°C per 1 km
for the next 3 km. What is the temperature at an altitude of 5 km?

Here,
For the first 2 km: Temperature decrease = 2km × (-6.5°C/km) = -13°C
For the next 3 km: Temperature decrease = 3 km × (-4.5°C/km) = -13.5°C
Total temperature decrease = (-13°C) + (-13.5°C) = -26.5°C
So, temperature at 5 km = 30°C - 26.5°C = 3.5°C (Ans:)

5. If the temperature at an altitude of 1 mile is 50°F, what would be the temperature at


an altitude of 3 miles, considering the standard lapse rate of 3.6°F per 1000 ft?
Given, Temperature at 1 mile = 50°F
Changes of altitude = 3 miles - 1 miles = 2 miles
We know, 1 mile = 5280 feet
So, at 2 miles: Altitude = 2 × 5280 = 10560 feet
Given, the standard lapse rate, 3.6°F temperature decrease per 1000 ft altitude
At 10560 ft altitude, the decrease of temperature is = (3.6°F/1000 ft * 10560) = 38.016 °F
So, temperature at 3 miles = 50°F − 38.016 °F = 11.98°F (Ans:)

6. A balloon is blown up and released from ground level. The Balloon will instantly
pop when at a height of 18,000 feet. If the ground temperature is 102oF, at what
temperature will the balloon pop?

Ans: 37.2oF

Lapse Rate in feet = Change of 3.6oF for every 1,000 feet.

1, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 3. 6o𝐹


3.6
18, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 1000
×18, 000 → 64. 8o𝐹

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 → 102 − 64. 8 → 37. 2o𝐹


So, the balloon will pop at 37.2 o𝐹

7. A hiker wants to find out the change in temperature when ascending a mountain.
He knows that the base of the mountain is at a height of 1,000 feet and the top of the
mountain is at a height of 14,500 feet. What is the total temperature change as one
climbs the mountain? Mention whether it is positive or negative.

Ans: - 48.6oF

Lapse Rate in feet = Change of 3.6oF for every 1,000 feet.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛→ 14, 500 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 − 1, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 →13, 500 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡

1, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 3. 6o𝐹


3.6
13, 500 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 1000
×13, 500 → 48. 6o𝐹

As the hiker is going up the mountain, the temperature is decreasing, and thus the
temperature change is - 48.6oF, and is negative.

8. In a mountainous region, the lapse rate is affected by the presence of waterbodies.


At an altitude of 1.5 km, the temperature is 16.8°C. If the temperature changes by 2°C
for every kilometer above 1.5 km, what would be the temperature at an altitude of 3.8
km?
Here,
At 1.5 km temperature is = 16.8°C
Changes of distance(altitude) = 3.8 km - 1.5 km = 2.3 km
Now, Temperature change (decrease) from 1.5 km to 3.8 km = (2°C/km) × 2.3 km = 4.6°C
So, Temperature at 3.8 km = 16.8°C - 4.6°C =12.2°C (Ans:)
9. A drone is used to capture images from high altitudes. It can fly up to an elevation
where the temperature is -2.5oC. If the temperature at ground level is 30oC, then what
is the maximum elevation the drone can fly up to?

Ans: 5 km

Lapse Rate in km = Change of 6.5oC for every 1 km.

To calculate the maximum elevation, we must first calculate the change in temperature when
going from the ground to the max height.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑇𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 →30 − (− 2. 5) →30 + 2. 5 → 32. 5o𝐶

Using the temperature change, we can apply the lapse rate rule to calculate the maximum
elevation.

6. 5o𝐶 → 1 𝑘𝑚
1
32. 5o𝐶 → 6.5 ×32. 5 →5 𝑘𝑚

10. A hawk flies from a tree 100 feet in height, to an elevation of 11,350 feet. Calculate
the drop in temperature, in F, as it flies from 100 feet to 11,350 feet.

Ans: 40.5oF

Lapse Rate in feet = Change of 3.6oF for every 1,000 feet.

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛→ 11, 350 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 − 100 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 →11, 250 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡

1, 000 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 3. 6o𝐹


3.6
11, 250 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 → 1000
×11, 250 → 40. 5o𝐹

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