In dry air the temperature decreases by about 0.65C for each 100-m increase in altitude. The temperature in red deer Alberta is 10C on a dry day. What is the temperature outside an aircraft 2.8km above the city?
To calculate the temperature outside the aircraft 2.8km above the city, we need to use the lapse rate given in the question. The lapse rate tells us how the temperature changes with increasing altitude in dry air.
According to the information given, the temperature decreases by about 0.65C for each 100-m increase in altitude. So, we can calculate the change in temperature for a 2.8km (2800m) increase in altitude using the lapse rate.
First, let's determine how many 100-m increments are in 2800m:
2800m / 100m = 28 increments
Now, we can calculate the change in temperature:
Change in temperature = 0.65C × 28 = 18.2C
Since the initial temperature in Red Deer, Alberta is 10C, we need to subtract the calculated change in temperature from it to find the temperature outside the aircraft:
Temperature outside the aircraft = 10C - 18.2C = -8.2C
Therefore, the temperature outside the aircraft 2.8km above the city is approximately -8.2C.