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Talk:Lapse rate

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inconsistent units

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Why are the dry and saturated rates given in different units? The dry rate is given in degrees C/km and degrees F/1000ft, while the saturated rate is given in degrees C/1000 feet. Obviously, this makes it impossible to compare one rate to the other without doing some math on the reader’s part. 73.90.91.93 (talk) 00:59, 3 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Equilibrium?

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The adiabatic lapse rate section says it assumes "a still vertical column at equilibrium". Elsewhere I've read that at thermal equilibrium, the temperature is uniform even in a gravitational field. My intuition says gradient, since it seems to me the molecules should pick up speed as they fall. But I genuinely don't know the truth. Is there a reference for this? Would an isolated column of ideal gas in a gravitational field g have a temperature gradient proportional to g? Spiel496 (talk) 21:25, 19 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The statement about “a still vertical column” was wrong, and has been amended. A new section “Lapse rate in an isolated column of gas” addresses the issue of the lapse rate in still air in a gravitational field with no energy flows through it. ~~~ Rhwentworth (talk) 05:00, 4 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]