ON THE WINWARD SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN SHOULD THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF THE PARCEL CHANGE AS IT RISES FROM 200 M TO 400 M
To determine whether the relative humidity of a parcel of air changes as it rises from 200 meters to 400 meters on the windward side of a mountain, we need to consider the vertical profile of the atmosphere and how it affects the parcel.
Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a particular temperature. It depends on both the temperature and the moisture content of the air. As air rises, it expands and cools due to decreasing atmospheric pressure. This cooling causes the air temperature to decrease.
The key factors to consider are the initial conditions of the parcel and the lifting mechanisms it experiences as it ascends the mountain. If the initial relative humidity of the parcel is below 100% and the parcel experiences adiabatic cooling (cooling without heat exchange with the surroundings), the relative humidity will increase as it rises through the atmospheric layers.
On the windward side of a mountain, the air is forced to rise due to orographic lifting. Orographic lifting occurs when the air encounters a barrier, such as a mountain range, and is forced to ascend. As the air rises, it encounters lower atmospheric pressures and expands, leading to adiabatic cooling.
Based on this information, we can infer that if the initial relative humidity of the parcel is below 100% and it undergoes adiabatic cooling as it rises from 200 meters to 400 meters on the windward side of the mountain, the relative humidity of the parcel should increase.
However, it's worth noting that other factors, such as the moisture content of the air mass and any additional moisture sources or processes (such as condensation, evaporation, or mixing with other air masses), can also influence the change in relative humidity. Therefore, a more detailed analysis of the specific atmospheric conditions and moisture sources would be required to provide a definitive answer.