Adiabatic
means occurring without a loss or gain of heat.
Diabatic
means occurring with an exchange of heat.
dry adiabatic rate (DAR)
The average DAR is 10°C/1000m
Cloud formation process
Adiabatic cooling by vertical lift
Air parcel cools to the dew-point temperature.
Air parcel becomes saturated.
Condensation occurs.
Relative humidity
The ratio of the amount of water vapour actually in the air to the maximum amount possible at a given temperature.
Dew-point
The temperature at which air achieves saturation