This time we will have air rising over a mountain that is 2400 meters high. It begins at sea level at 24˚C and has a dew point temperature of 18˚C. So we need it to cool by 6˚ to start condensing. If our air is forced to rise it will first cool at the dry adiabatic rate of 1˚ per 100 meters. So if it goes up 100 meters it will cool by 1˚ to 24˚. If it goes up 200 m it will cool by 2˚ to 23˚. So at what elevation will it reach its dew point temperature of 18˚C? This is the condensation level.
At this point it switches over to the Wet Adiabatic Rate of 5˚ per 1000 m. That's half a degree for each 100 meters. So it still cools but not as fast. It has reached its dew point temp of 18˚. What will be the temperature when it gets to 1000 m?
It continues to rise and cool at the wet adiabatic rate until it reaches the top of the mountain at 2400 m. What will be the temperature at the top?
Now it begins to descend the other side of the mountain. It switches over to the dry adiabatic rate of 1˚ per 100 meters. And now, it is warming, not cooling. If it descends to an elevation of 700 meters, what will be the temperature?
If a parcel of air starts out at sea level at 30˚C with a dew point of 19˚C and moves up over a ridge that is 2,500 meters high before descending to a plain that is 1,000 meters high, what will be the temperature when it reaches the plain?
It should cool at the dry rate (1˚C/100m) until it reaches the dew point temp then cool at the wet rate (.5˚C/100m) then warm at the dry rate as it descends.