Which term describes the actual temperature profile of the atmosphere?

The term that describes the actual temperature profile of the atmosphere is the environmental lapse rate. This rate refers to the rate at which air temperature decreases with an increase in altitude in the atmosphere at a given time and location. It reflects the real atmospheric conditions and how temperature varies from the surface up through the different layers of the atmosphere.

The environmental lapse rate is dynamic and can change depending on a variety of factors, including time of day, weather conditions, and geographical location. It is crucial for understanding phenomena such as convection and the stability of the atmosphere, which influence weather patterns and the formation of clouds, storms, and other meteorological events.

The moist and dry adiabatic lapse rates describe theoretical rates of temperature change for rising air that is not necessarily representative of actual atmospheric conditions. These rates assume adiabatic processes (no heat exchange) and are more useful for understanding specific processes, such as buoyancy in rising air parcels, than for characterizing the overall atmosphere at a given moment. The absorption rate does not pertain to temperature profiles but rather to the process by which substances absorb energy, typically in the context of radiation and energy transfer.