LAPSERATE

Lapse rate

The lapse rate is defined as the rate of decrease with height for an atmospheric variable. The variable involved is temperature unless specified otherwise. The terminology arises from the word lapse in the sense of a decrease or decline. While most often applied to Earth's atmosphere the concept can be extended to any gravitationally supported ball of gas.

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lapse rate

Noun

  1. The rate of change in atmospheric temperature with increase of height. The variable normally is temperature unless specified otherwise. This is a vertical direction of travel (up or down), and the temperature may rise or fall suddenly.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: lapse rate
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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