What phenomenon occurs when air rises and expands, leading to cooling and possible condensation?

The phenomenon that occurs when air rises and expands, leading to cooling and possible condensation, is known as adiabatic cooling. This process is primarily associated with the principles of thermodynamics, specifically the idea that when a gas expands, it does work on its surroundings, and in doing so, it loses internal energy, resulting in a temperature drop.

As air rises in the atmosphere, the pressure decreases, allowing the air to expand. This expansion causes the air to cool, and if the air cools to its dew point, condensation occurs. This is a fundamental process in the formation of clouds and precipitation, as it leads to the conversion of water vapor into liquid water droplets.

Convection, while related to the movement of air, describes the bulk movement of air due to differences in temperature and density, not specifically the cooling due to expansion. Advection refers to the horizontal transport of air and moisture, and radiative cooling involves the cooling of surfaces through the emission of infrared radiation, neither of which directly explains the cooling and condensation resulting from rising air.

Thus, adiabatic cooling accurately describes the cooling process associated with rising air that can lead to condensation, making it the correct choice.