AOS2 Homework 4 1
AOS2: Air Pollution Homework 4
Name____________________________________________ ID#_______________________
Section (time/day)__________________ TA Name__________________________________
Homework assignment will be collected at the beginning of the class on Nov 12. Homework
handed in after they are collected, but within 48 hours will be accepted with a 25% point
deduction. Homework will not be accepted more than 48 hours after they have been collected.
1. (2 pt) The environmental lapse rate is _______ (larger/smaller/equal) than the dry adiabatic
lapse rate in a vertically stable dry atmosphere, and _______ (larger/smaller/equal) in a neutral
dry atmosphere.
2. (3 pt) An air parcel colder than its surrounding air has a _______ (lower/higher/the same)
density than the surrounding air. It is thus less __________ and will _________ (float/rise/sink).
3. (8 pt) Determine the atmospheric stability (stable, neutral, unstable) to the following
environmental lapse rates for an atmosphere with and without condensation:
? stability in dry conditions stability in saturated conditions
-5?C/km ____________________ _________________________
10?C/km ____________________ _________________________
8?C/km ____________________ _________________________
11?C/km ____________________ _________________________
4. (3 pts) Calculate and fill in the temperatures of
the air following the arrows according to the
dry and saturated adiabatic lapse rates.
(h: altitude)
5. (4 pts) These two temperature profiles are from two
consecutive days in the same city. Answer the
following questions:
i) What is the mixed layer height?
day a: _____________ day b: ______________
ii) The pollution levels on day _____ will be higher
than on day _____.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
5 10 15 20 25
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
5 10 15 20 25
a
altitude (km)
b
temperature (C) altitude (km)
AOS2 Homework 4 2
Answer the following questions in your own words in 2 or 3 short sentences:
6. (10 pts) Explain what an inversion is and why it is so important for air quality.
7. (10 pts) How and when is a radiation inversion formed?