Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your IFR Certification!

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At what rate does unsaturated air cool when flowing upslope?

3 degrees Celsius per 1,000 ft

Unsaturated air cools at a rate of approximately 3 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet when it flows upslope. This cooling rate is known as the dry adiabatic lapse rate. When unsaturated air rises, it expands due to lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes, which causes the air to cool. The specific value of 3 degrees Celsius per 1,000 feet is important for pilots and meteorologists to understand, as it helps in predicting weather patterns, cloud formation, and the overall behavior of air masses in mountainous or hilly terrains.

When air is unsaturated, this relatively constant rate of cooling is typical, and it's a fundamental concept in atmospheric sciences. This knowledge can assist pilots in preparing for potential weather changes, such as cloud development, turbulence, or condensation effects, by recognizing when air is cooling and may eventually reach the dew point, leading to saturation and cloud formation.

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2 degrees Celsius per 1,000 ft

5 degrees Celsius per 1,000 ft

1 degree Celsius per 1,000 ft

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