Atmospheric Stability and Lapse Rates

Question 1

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate is:

Answer 1

3C per 1000ft

1C per 100m

Question 2

Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate is:

Answer 2

1. 8C per 1000ft

0. 6C per 100m

Question 3

Warmer Saturated Air cools slower than Colder Saturated air, because:

Answer 3

Warm saturated air holds more moisture than cold saturated air. More condensation will take place when it is cooled and more latent heat will be released.

Question 4

List 5 triggers (factors) that cause air to rise.

Answer 4

Convergence (Low Pressure System)
Terrain (Orographic Trigger)
Frontal
Ground Heating (Thermal)
Turbulence

Question 5

Absolute Stability

Answer 5

After displacement, air will sink back to original position.
ELR: less than 0.6C/100m or 1.8C/1000ft.
ELR is less than DALR and SALR.

Question 6

Weather in Stable Conditions:

Clouds/Precip/Visibility/Turbulence

Answer 6

Clouds: Stratiform if any.
Precip: light if any.
Visibility: Possibly haze/fog/mist.
Turbulence: Little or none.

Question 7

Absolute Instability

Answer 7

Air will continue to rise, regardless of dry or saturated air.
ELR: more than 1C/100m or 3C/1000ft.

Question 8

Weather in Unstable Conditions:

Clouds/Precipitation/Visibility/Turbulene

Answer 8

Clouds: Cumuliform
Precipitation: Likely intense.
Visibility: Good
Turbulence: MOD/SEV

Question 9

Conditional Stability

Answer 9

Stable or Unstable depending on whether it is dry or saturated.
ELR: between DALR&SALR
0.6C/100m - 1C/100m
1.8C/1000ft - 3C/1000ft.

Question 10

Neutral Stability

Answer 10

Tendency for parcel of air to remain in it’s displaced position.
ELR is the same as DALR (in dry air)
or
ELR is the same as SALR (in saturated air)