The Atmosphere - Chapter 2: Stability

Question 1

Air that is heavier due to colder temperature and resists vertical displacement

Answer 1

stable air

Question 2

Air that is warmer and therefore lighter than the surrounding air would continue to rise until it reached an altitude having the same temperature (think hot air balloon)

Answer 2

unstable air

Question 3

The stability of the air is determined by examining the temperature of the atmosphere at ____

Answer 3

various heights

Question 4

_____ prevails when the environmental lapse rate is less than the wet adiabatic rate

Answer 4

Absolute stability

Question 5

The most stable conditions occur when the temperature in a layer of air ____ with altitude

Answer 5

increases

Question 6

Temperature inversions are created because the ground and air will ___ more rapidly than the air aloft

Answer 6

cool

Question 7

When warm air overlies cooler air, it acts as a ___ and prevents appreciable vertical mixing

Answer 7

lid

Question 8

Air is said to exhibit _________ when the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic rate

Answer 8

absolute instability

Question 9

Conditional instability happens when moist air has ________ between the dry and wet adiabetic rates

Answer 9

environmental lapse rate

Question 10

A good indication that the ascending air is unstable is if you have….

Answer 10

cauliflower shaped clouds appearing to grow as if bubbles of hot air are surging upward