The lapse rate is defined as the rate of decrease with height for an atmospheric variable. The variable involved is temperature unless specified otherwise. The terminology arises from the word lapse in the sense of a decrease or decline. While most often applied to Earth's atmosphere the concept can be extended to any gravitationally supported ball of gas.
Read more about Lapse Rate: Definition, Mathematical Definition, Types of Lapse Rates, Significance in Meteorology
Famous quotes containing the words lapse and/or rate:
“The longest day must have its close—the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning. An eternal, inexorable lapse of moments is ever hurrying the day of the evil to an eternal night, and the night of the just to an eternal day.”
—Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896)
“If we became students of Malcolm X, we would not have young black men out there killing each other like they’re killing each other now. Young black men would not be impregnating young black women at the rate going on now. We’d not have the drugs we have now, or the alcoholism.”
—Spike Lee (b. 1956)