What happens to the temperature of rising air in the adiabatic process?

In an adiabatic process, the temperature of rising air decreases. This phenomenon occurs because as air rises, it experiences a decrease in pressure. According to the adiabatic cooling principle, when air expands due to lower pressure, it uses energy to do so, which results in a drop in temperature.

As air rises in the atmosphere, it encounters lower atmospheric pressure, and the air parcel expands. This expansion leads to a decrease in internal energy, hence the temperature falls. The rate of temperature decrease in rising air is known as the dry adiabatic lapse rate, which is approximately 9.8 degrees Celsius per kilometer in the lower atmosphere when the air is unsaturated.

This concept is crucial in meteorology and aviation, as it helps explain temperature changes associated with weather phenomena such as the formation of clouds, precipitation, and the general movement of air masses. Thus, in the context of the question, the correct answer is that the temperature of rising air in the adiabatic process decreases.