Which of the following processes primarily causes the increase in temperature of air parcels as they descend?

Prepare for the Mississippi State Weather and Climate Exam. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations to boost your readiness. Ace your test with confidence!

The process that primarily causes the increase in temperature of air parcels as they descend is heating adiabatic processes. When air descends, it experiences an increase in pressure due to the weight of the air above it. This increase in pressure leads to an increase in temperature, according to the principles of thermodynamics. As the air parcels move downward, they are compressed, and this compression causes the temperature to rise without any heat being exchanged with the surrounding environment. This rise in temperature is characteristic of adiabatic heating.

In contrast, cooling adiabatic processes refer to the temperature decrease of rising air parcels, which is the opposite of what occurs during descent. Conduction and radiation involve heat transfer mechanisms that occur through direct contact or energy emission, respectively, but they are not the primary processes responsible for the temperature increase of air parcels during descent. Therefore, heating adiabatic processes is the correct answer as they specifically describe the mechanism by which descending air parcels warm up.

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