Atmospheric Stability

and Cloud Formation

RECAP
Mechanical equilibrium: stable,
unstable, neutral.
Adiabatic expansion/compression: no
heat exchange.
Adiabatic lapse rate
Dry adiabatic lapse rate ~ 10 K/km
Moist adiabatic lapse rate ~ 6 K/km
Remember: Dry > Moist always
Environmental lapse rate.
Atmospheric stability:
Absolutely stable atmosphere
Absolutely unstable atmosphere
Neutrally stable atmosphere
Conditionally unstable atmosphere

Midchapter summary
The air temperature in a rising parcel of unsaturated air decreases
at the dry adiabatic rate, while the air temperature in a rising parcel
of saturated air decreases at the moist adiabatic rate.
The dry adiabatic rate and moist adiabatic rate of cooling are
different due to the fact that latent heat is released in a rising
parcel of saturated air.
In a stable atmosphere, a lifted parcel of air will be cooler (heavier)
than the air surrounding it, and will tend to sink back to its original
position.
In an unstable atmosphere, a lifted parcel of air will be warmer
(lighter) than the air surrounding it, and will continue to rise upward,
away from its original position.
The atmosphere becomes more stable (stabilizes) as the surface air
cools and/or the air aloft warms.
The atmosphere becomes more unstable (destabilizes) as the surface
air warms and/or the air aloft cools.
Layered clouds tend to form in a stable atmosphere, while
cumuliform clouds form in an unstable atmosphere.

Stable atmosphere

Unstable atmosphere

Sample test questions

If the environmental lapse rate is 5 deg C per 1000 m

and the temperature at the earth's surface is 25 deg
C, then the air temperature at 2000 m above the
ground is:
a.
25 deg C
b.
35 deg C
c.
20 deg C
d.
15 deg C
e.
10 deg C

Sample test questions

Take the dry adiabatic lapse rate to be 10 deg C per

1000 m. A radiosonde has measured the temperature
of the atmosphere to be 30 deg C on the ground and
15 deg C at an altitude of 1000 m. What can you say
about the stability of the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is absolutely unstable
The atmosphere is conditionally unstable
The atmosphere is absolutely stable
The atmosphere is neutrally stable
This question cannot be answered without knowing
the moist adiabatic lapse rate

How does the Stability of the

Atmosphere Change During the Day?
Daytime:
The sun heats the ground.
The boundary layer is heated from below.
The environmental lapse rate is steep.
The atmosphere can become unstable.
Morning and evening hours:
Radiation cooling results in temperature inversion.
The boundary layer is cooler than the air above.
The environmental lapse rate becomes less steep.
The atmosphere is stable.

DAY

Air Stability

NIGHT

The ground is warm

IR cooling

Environmental
lapse rate

Altitude

Solar radiation

Adiabatic lapse rate

20
30
Temperature [C]

The ground is cool

Cloud Formation

Convection and Clouds

Cumulus Clouds

Cumulus clouds

Formation of Convective Clouds

The surface air temperature is 35 C and the dew point is 25 C

Stability and cloud thickness

A conditionally unstable atmosphere allows for

saturated air to keep propagating upwards

STABLE

UNSTABLE

Orographic uplift

Wave clouds

Cap cloud

Lenticular cloud

Wave clouds