suppose you take a balloon sounding on a typical winter day

suppose you take a balloon sounding on a typical winter day at the South Pole. the surface temperature is meaured at -80 degrees Celsius, and the air temperature measured at the top of a 30m high tower is -50 degree Celsius. what is the value of the lapse rate over the bottom 30m of the atmosphere, expressed in unis of degree Celsius per km?

Solution

the surface temperature is meaured at -80 degrees Celsius

the air temperature measured at the top of a 30m high tower is -50 degree Celsius

difference between 30 m = 30 degree

so per km means .030m = 30degree

value of the lapse rate = 30/0.030 = 1000

lapse rate over the bottom = 1000 degree Celsius per km