What is the rate at which dry air cools as it rises in the atmosphere?

The rate at which dry air cools as it rises in the atmosphere is commonly known as the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR). This rate is approximately 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet. As air rises, it expands due to lower atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes, which leads to cooling. The cooling occurs without the exchange of heat with the surrounding environment, making it an adiabatic process.

For dry air, the DALR of about 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit is a standard metric used in meteorology and physical geography to estimate temperature changes with elevation. Notably, if the air were saturated, which means it contains moisture, it would cool at a different rate due to the release of latent heat during condensation, but this is not relevant when discussing dry air. Therefore, understanding the dry adiabatic lapse rate is essential for interpreting temperature changes with altitude and its implications for weather patterns.