AIR

Air when expands it cools and when it is compressed it is warm

Dry Adiabatic rate

As pressure decreases with ascending height, the air expands ie cools at the constant rate of 10˚C for
every 1000m of ascent . Conversely,descending air comes under increasingly higher pressure
compresses and is heats 10˚C for every 100m of descent. This rate of cooling or heating of undsatrated
air is Dry Adiabatic rate.

Wet Adiabatic rate

The slower rate of cooling caused by the addition of latent heat, after the parcel of air reaches its dew
point.

NOTE: From the surface upto the condensation level the air cools at the dry adiabatic rate. The wet
adiabatic rate commences at the condensation level.

Stability of air
Stable air- If parcel of air is cooler than the surrounding environment, It would be more dense and sink
to its original position.
Unstable air- If parcel of air is warmer than the surrounding environment, it would be less dense and
continue to rise until its temperature is equaled with the surrounding.
Except for NIMBOSTRATUS all clouds are associated with unstable air.
NOTE : Cumulus clouds from under fair weather, with triggered acceleration they extend vertically and
form towering clouds called cumulonimbus.They may produce rain shower or thunderstorm.

The process that develops precipitation in the middle latitudes is known as Bergeron Process.