CH8 - Adiabatic Processes and Stability

Question 1

What is stability?

Answer 1

The ability of coming back to its original place/point.

Question 2

What is atmospheric stability?

Answer 2

The ability or otherwise (or not) of a parcel of air to resist vertical motion.

Question 3

What is the adiabatic process?

Answer 3

It’s a thermodynamic process of warming or cooling in which NO HEAT is transferred to, or from, the system.

Question 4

What happen with temperature after an expansion?

Answer 4

Temp drops because of the space among the molecules.

Question 5

What does it mean that something changes “adiabatically”?

Answer 5

Without any contact with the atmosphere.

Question 6

What is it used to know by how much the temperature changes?

Answer 6

By the adiabatic lapse rate (ALR).

Question 7

What different types of ALR are there?

Answer 7

Dry, DALR (at a rate of 3ºC per 1000ft or 1ºC per 100m).

Saturated, SALR (by an average of 1.8ºC per 1000ft or 0.6ºC per 100m).

Question 8

What are the 4 states of stability?

Answer 8

Absolute stability (the tendency of a displaced parcel of air TO RETURN to its original position once the initial displacement force has ceased)

Absolute INestability (the tendency of a displaced parcel of air TO CONTINUE in the direction of the displacement once the displacement force has ceased)

Conditional stability (it exists whenever the value of the ELR is between the SALR and DALR)

Neutral stability (tendency of a displaced parcel of air TO REMAIN in its displaced position when the initial distubing force is removed)

Question 9

What sort of weather can we see at absolutely stable conditions?

Answer 9

Clouds, light precipitations, poor visibility and turbulences.

Question 10

What sort of weather can we see at absolutely UNstable conditions?

Answer 10

Clouds, intense precipitations, good visibility (all the smoke and dust particles are drawn upwards), and turbulences.