Humidity, Saturation, and Stability: Part 2 Flashcards
What is overturning in the atmosphere?
Mixing or the convection of heavy and light air
When is the atmosphere unstable?
When warm air is under cold air
When is the atmosphere stable?
When warm air is above cold air
What is adiabatic lifting?
When a parcel of air is contained in a balloon skin that allows the transfer of pressure but no mixing with ambient air.
What happens when the air rises in adiabatic lifting?
Pressure increases and temperature decreases
What happens when the air sinks in adiabatic lifting?
Pressure increases and temperature increases
How much does the temperature change for every 100m change in unsaturated air?
1°C
What is a lapse rate?
The temperature decrease with height
What is the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate?
The rate at which a parcel of air with relative humidity less than 100% cool as it rises adiabatically
What is the Environmental Lapse Rate?
The observed lapse of the temperature of the environment with respect to height
How does stable air affect the vertical motion of a parcel in unsaturated air?
It inhibits it.
How does unstable air affect the vertical motion of a parcel in unsaturated air?
It enhances it
When is the atmosphere stable to vertical motion?
When the environmental lapse rate is less than the dry adiabatic lapse rate
When is the atmosphere neutral to vertical motion?
When the environmental lapse rate is equal to the dry adiabatic lapse rate
When is the atmosphere unstable?
When the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate
