Moist adiabatic lapse rate (${\Gamma }_m=-dT/dz$)

A saturated ascending air parcel releases latent heat as water vapor condenses, offsetting part of its expansion cooling. Its temperature decreases less steeply than the dry adiabatic lapse rate, with the gradient depending on temperature, pressure, moisture and whether condensate remains in the parcel. It is not a universal constant equal to the typical environmental lapse rate.