adiabatic atmosphere

From Glossary of Meteorology
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(Or dry-adiabatic atmosphere;
also called convective atmosphere, homogeneous atmosphere.) A model atmosphere characterized by a dry-adiabatic lapse rate throughout its vertical extent.
Such a condition is never observed and is also rather poorly designated, since "adiabatic" represents a process, not a condition. The pressure in an adiabatic atmosphere decreases with height according to
ams2001glos-Ae8
where p0 and T0 are the pressure and temperature (K), respectively, at sea level, z the geometric height, Rd the gas constant for dry air, cpd the specific heat of dry air at constant pressure, and g the acceleration of gravity.
See homogeneous atmosphere.


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