4. Parcel of Air and Pollutant Transport

Try these first

1. 1.

   What happens to air temperature as we go higher in the atmosphere?

   Hint

   Think about how weather balloons behave.

2. 2.

   What is buoyancy in simple terms?

   Hint

   It’s what keeps hot air balloons afloat.

3. 3.

   What temperature change occurs with the dry adiabatic lapse rate for every kilometer of height?

   • -5 °C
   • -9.8 °C
   • -10 °C

   Hint

   This is a standard value used in atmospheric science.

4. 4.

   True or False: In a stable atmosphere, rising parcels of air will continue to rise indefinitely.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about the behavior of balloons in stable conditions.

5. 5.

   A region shows persistent temperature inversions. How would this affect local air quality, and what mitigation measures could be put in place?

   Hint

   Think about human actions that can mitigate the effects of stable atmospheric conditions.

6. 6.

   Calculate the vertical distance a pollutant can rise in a given temperature profile with specific environmental lapse rates. Use hypothetical temperatures for a theoretical analysis.

   Hint

   Use the formula ΔT = lapse rate (°C/km) x height (km) to find the height.