At an airport near sea level with a surface temperature of 15°C, what is the estimated altitude for the freezing level using the standard lapse rate?

To determine the estimated altitude for the freezing level using the standard lapse rate, it's essential to understand how temperature decreases with altitude in the atmosphere. The standard lapse rate is approximately 2°C for every 1,000 feet of ascent.

At a sea level temperature of 15°C, the freezing point of water (0°C) would be reached as the altitude increases. To find the altitude at which this occurs, you can calculate how many degrees need to be dropped to reach 0°C. Starting from 15°C and needing to decrease to 0°C means a decrease of 15°C.

Using the standard lapse rate, each 1,000 feet of altitude results in a decrease of 2°C. Therefore, to find out how many feet you need to go up to reach a 15°C drop, you can set up the ratio:

15°C drop ÷ 2°C per 1,000 feet = 7.5 (thousands of feet)

Now, converting this to feet gives you:

7.5 x 1,000 ft = 7,500 ft

Thus, the estimated altitude for the freezing level in this scenario would be 7,500 feet. This reasoning aligns with recognizing the application of