ATMOSPHERIC
STABILITY
Atmospheric stability is defined as the ability of the atmosphere to enhance
or to resist atmospheric motions. A simple way to determine the atmospheric
stability is to use dry adiabatic lapse rate (
d).
The following table shows the conditions for different atmospheric lapse
rates.
|
LAPSE RATE
|
ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY
|
|
> d
|
Unstable
|
|
= d
|
Neutral
|
|
< d
|
Stable
|
In the above table, the value of the dry adiabatic lapse rate is -1 oC/100
m. The environmental lapse rate is positive in a strongly stable atmosphere
while it is negative in an unstable atmosphere.
For more detailed information on Atmospheric Stability, go to the following
slide show.
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