At a coastal weather station situated at sea level (0\text{ m}), the recorded dry-bulb air… — JAMB UTME

At a coastal weather station situated at sea level ( $0\text{ m}$ ), the recorded dry-bulb air temperature is $31.2^\circ\text{C}$ . A secondary meteorological station is established on an adjacent highlands plateau at an altitude of $2,400\text{ m}$ . Assuming a standard environmental lapse rate of $6.5^\circ\text{C}$ per $1,000\text{ m}$ of ascent in the troposphere, what is the calculated air temperature at the highlands station in degrees Celsius ( $^\circ\text{C}$ )?

Answer: 15.6 °C

Answer

The expected air temperature at the highlands station is

15.6^\circ\text{C}

Air temperature in the lowest layer of the atmosphere (troposphere) decreases with altitude at the standard environmental lapse rate of

6.5^\circ\text{C}

per

1,000\text{ m}

(

0.65^\circ\text{C}

per

100\text{ m}

). For an elevation increase of

2,400\text{ m}

, the total temperature drop equals

2.4 \times 6.5^\circ\text{C} = 15.6^\circ\text{C}

. Subtracting this reduction from the baseline sea-level reading of

31.2^\circ\text{C}

gives

15.6^\circ\text{C}

Step-by-Step Solution

Determine altitude difference in thousands of meters

2.4\text{ units of } 1,000\text{ m}

The environmental lapse rate is specified per

1,000\text{ m}

elevation gain.

Compute total atmospheric temperature drop

15.6^\circ\text{C}

drop

Multiply the elevation change in thousands of meters (

2.4

) by the lapse rate (

6.5^\circ\text{C}

Calculate final temperature at plateau elevation

15.6^\circ\text{C}

Subtract the total calculated temperature drop from the sea-level temperature (

31.2^\circ\text{C} - 15.6^\circ\text{C}

Key Concept

Environmental Lapse Rate and Vertical Temperature Variation

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