When air in the atmosphere rises or falls it often experiences a change in temperature. Interesting examples of this behavior are the chinook winds in the Rocky Mountains and the foehns in the Alps. a. When a wind containing moist air blows up the side of a tall mountain, its altitude increases and its pressure drops. What happens to this air’s density?
b. Why does this rising air experiences a drop in temperature?
c. The air’s dropping temperature causes its moisture to condense into rain while the air itself continues over the mountaintop without the moisture. As the moisture condenses from a gas into a liquid, it warms the air. Which portion of an air conditioner employs a similar process?
d. The warmed air then descends into the valley beyond the mountain and it warms up even more. The air reaching the valley is unusually hot and dry. Explain this additional warming during its descent.