What occurs when warm air rises, expands, and cools?

When warm air rises, it expands due to a decrease in atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. As it expands, the air begins to cool. This cooling process is crucial in meteorology because it can lead to condensation. When the air temperature drops to the dew point, water vapor present in the air condenses into tiny water droplets, forming clouds or other forms of precipitation.

In this context, condensation is the most relevant phenomenon associated with rising warm air. It plays a key role in weather patterns, cloud formation, and the water cycle. Understanding this process is essential for comprehending how various weather systems develop.

The other choices do not directly relate to this specific process. Evaporation refers to the transformation of liquid water into water vapor, which occurs when air heats up rather than cools down. A pressure increase does not typically happen when warm air rises; instead, it usually leads to pressure drops. Dew formation can occur as a result of condensation but is a more specific instance, not the broad phenomenon that occurs when warm air rises and cools.