Latent heat is released in the conversion of water from a vapor to a liquid state that occurs with condensation. The addition of the latent heat partially counteracts the cooling effect of the adiabatic temperature changes. This results in a reduction of the cooling rate to 4-9 o C per 1000 m, known as the wet adiabatic lapse rate . Decrease in the adiabatic lapse rate due to the addition of the latent heat of condensation for a hypothetical air mass following condensation at 3 km altitude. Condensation typically occurs on pre-existing surfaces .
Condensation occurs on surfaces such as dust particles and aerosols to form tiny cloud droplets.
The droplets are readily kept airborne by air turbulence until they become so common that they collide and coalesce.