Lifting condensation level

From Glossary of Meteorology



lifting condensation level

(Abbreviated LCL;
also called isentropic condensation level.) The level at which a parcel of moist air lifted dry-adiabatically would become saturated.

On a thermodynamic diagram it is located at the point of intersection of the dry adiabat through the point representing the parcel's original pressure and temperature with the saturation mixing ratio line having the same value of the mixing ratio as the parcel. The pressure and temperature at the lifting condensation level are usually called the condensation pressure and condensation temperature, respectively, and the corresponding point on a thermodynamic diagram is called either the characteristic point, adiabatic saturation point, or adiabatic condensation point.
See convective condensation level, conditional instability, saturation level.


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