06 Atmospheric Stability

What is the scientific word that describes the process (of temperature change) that occurs where no energy (heat) is gained from or lost to the surroundings?

• Adriatic

• Adiabatic

• Anabatic

• Asthmatic

Adiabatic cooling is associated with …?

• A constant pressure and a decrease in volume

• An increase in density and a decrease in volume

• An increase in pressure and density

• A decrease in pressure and density

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

• an UNSTABLE atmosphere occurs when the ELR>DALR

• a STABLE atmosphere occurs when the SALR>ELR

• a NEUTRAL atmosphere occurs when the ELR>SALR

• a STABLE atmosphere occurs when the ELR<SALR

Select the set of words that when put together produce a TRUE statement.

Adiabatic cooling is said to occur when a parcel of air …

• ascends, expands, and cools without loss or gain of heat energy from the surrounding environment

• ascends and loses heat to the surrounding environment

• descends and becomes cooler and denser without giving up heat to the atmosphere

• descends and loses heat to the surrounding environment

Produce a true statement by adding one of the given word sets to this text:-

In temperate latitudes, the: SALR is (i) ..........., and the DALR is (ii) ..................

• (i) 1.5°C per 1000 ft (ii) 2°C per 1000 ft

• (i) 1.5°C per 1000 ft (ii) 3°C per 1000 ft

• (i) 2°C per 1000 ft (ii) 1°C per 1000 ft

• (i) 3°C per 1000 ft (ii) 1°C per 1000 ft

Which value would determine that an atmosphere is ABSOLUTELY STABLE?

• ELR of 1°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 2°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 3°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 4°C per 1000 ft

Which value would determine that an atmosphere is ABSOLUTELY UNSTABLE?

• ELR of 1°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 2°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 3°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 4°C per 1000 ft

Which value would determine that an atmosphere is CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE?

• ELR of 1°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 2°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 3°C per 1000 ft

• ELR of 4°C per 1000 ft

Why is it that the SALR in tropical areas is generally less than the SALR in temperate regions?

• Because in tropical areas a larger amount of latent heat is absorbed during condensation than is absorbed by the same process in temperate regions, which reduces the rate of evaporation

• Because in tropical areas a smaller amount of latent heat is released during condensation than is absorbed by the same process in temperate regions, which increases the rate of cooling.

• Because in tropical areas a larger amount of latent heat is released during condensation than is absorbed by the same process in temperate regions, which reduces the rate of further cooling

• The saturation content in the tropics is lower than in temperate areas

Select the set of words that when added to the following text will produce a true statement.

When considering the definition of steepness of the ELR …

• a shallow ELR will indicate a less stable environment than that with a steep ELR

• a steep ELR will indicate a less stable environment than that with a shallow ELR