AIR STABILITYAIR STABILITY

Adiabatic ProcessAdiabatic ProcessThis is when a tiny parcel of air either compresses and warms or expands and cools with no interchange ofThis is when a tiny parcel of air either compresses and warms or expands and cools with no interchange ofHeat with its surroundingsHeat with its surroundings

DRY ADIABATIC RATEDRY ADIABATIC RATE10C-1000m10C-1000m5.5F-1000ft5.5F-1000ft

Example Parcel A Example Parcel A

2000ft2000ft 48.0F48.0F

1000ft1000ft 53.5F53.5F

SFCSFC 59F59F

MOIST ADIABATIC RATEMOIST ADIABATIC RATE6C-1000m6C-1000m3.3F-1000ft3.3F-1000ft

Example Parcel A Example Parcel A

2000ft2000ft 53.4F53.4F

1000ft1000ft 56.7F56.7F

SFCSFC 60F60F

AIR STABILITIES(In Degrees F/ Feet)AIR STABILITIES(In Degrees F/ Feet)

Absolute StableAbsolute Stable

Line 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 2 Actual TempLine 2 Actual TempLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rateLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rate

SFCSFC

10001000

20002000

30003000

40004000

70F70F60F60F50F50F

Absolute UnstableAbsolute Unstable

Line 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 2 Actual TempLine 2 Actual TempLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rateLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rate

70F70F60F60F50F50FSFCSFC

10001000

20002000

30003000

40004000

Conditional Conditional UnstableUnstable

Line 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 1 Dry Adiabatic rateLine 2 Actual TempLine 2 Actual TempLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rateLine 3 Moist Adiabatic rate

70F70F60F60F50F50FSFCSFC

10001000

20002000

30003000

40004000

CLOUD FORMATIONCLOUD FORMATION

Convection(Surface Heating)Convection(Surface Heating)

TopographyTopography

ConvergenceConvergence

Frontal LiftingFrontal Lifting

LL

Cold AirCold Air Cool AirCool Air

Warm AirWarm Air