Lifting condensation level
= Lifting condensation level
The level where an initially unsaturated air parcel first reaches saturation during an approximately dry adiabatic ascent. Before saturation, expansion cools the parcel while its water-vapour mixing ratio remains approximately constant. At saturation, further ascent can condense water and release <latent heat>; the subsequent parcel lapse rate differs from the dry rate. Mixing with surrounding air changes this ideal parcel construction.