Stability of the Atmosphere

Question 1

If moved, it will return to its original placement.

Answer 1

Stable

Question 2

It will not remain where it is.

Answer 2

Unstable

Question 3

If moved, it will remain in its new position, otherwise it will stay where it is.

Answer 3

Neutral

Question 4

An upward force exerted by a fluid that opposes the weight of a partially or fully immersed object.

Answer 4

Buoyancy

Question 5

Temperature decreases very rapidly with height.

Answer 5

Steep Lapse Rate - Unstable

Question 6

Temperature decreases very little with height.

Answer 6

Shallow Lapse Rate - Stable

Question 7

Temperature increase with height.

Answer 7

Inversion - Extremely Stable

Question 8

Temperature does not change with height.

Answer 8

Isothermal Layer - Very Stable

Question 9

Environmental Lapse Rate is LESS than the Saturation Adiabatic Lapse Rate.

Answer 9

Absolute Stability

Question 10

Environmental Lapse Rate is GREATER than the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate.

Answer 10

Absolute Instability

Question 11

Environmental Lapse Rate is between the Dry and Saturation Adiabatic Lapse Rates.

Answer 11

Conditional Instability
Unsaturated-Stable; Saturated-Unstable

Question 12

Initially stable air becomes unstable as the whole air mass undergoes large-scale ascent until it becomes saturated; this would occur principally with frontal lift and with convergence.

Answer 12

Potential Instability

Question 13

How can Lapse Rate be steepened?

Answer 13

Warming the lower portions or Cooling the upper portions.

Question 14

How can Lapse Rate be made shallower?

Answer 14

Cooling the lower portions or Warming the upper portions

Question 15

What is one of the principal methods of developing instability?

Answer 15

Daytime surface heating

Question 16

What is the temperature structure of the stratosphere?

Answer 16

Generally isothermal or increases with height.

Always Stable

Question 17

Cold Air Advection

Answer 17

Cold Air moving rapidly towards Warm Air.
Instability Developing

Question 18

Warm Air Advection

Answer 18

Warm air replacing the cold air.
Stability Developing

Question 19

A very stable layer can form as a result of widespread sinking of air within a relatively thick layer aloft, while air below this level remains unchanged. The sinking air is heated by compression.

Answer 19

Subsidence Inversion

Question 20

Vertical currents that develop in unstable air.

Answer 20

Convective Cells

Question 21

What type of clouds form in stable air?

Answer 21

Cloud forms in Layers

Question 22

What type of clouds form in unstable air?

Answer 22

Cloud forms in Towers

Question 23

What is the type of precipitation in stable air?

Answer 23

Continuous Precipitation

Question 24

What is the type of precipitation in unstable air?

Answer 24

Showery Precipitation

Question 25

The path followed by the radio wave is significantly different from that normally expected.

Answer 25

Anomalous Propagation

Targets can be detected at phenomenally long ranges.

Question 26

What is the layer called where wavelengths are refracted to a greater extent than normal. They are bent down until they strike the earth and then are reflected back up again.

Answer 26

Radio Duct

Question 27

What are the Meteorological conditions for the formation of radio ducts?

Answer 27

1. Subsidence Inversions over oceans.
2. Advection of warm, dry air over cooler water.
3. Nocurnal Inversions.