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Atmospheric Stability Stable Air Stable air resists vertical displacement; if displaced vertically, a parcel returns to its original position Causes of stable air: 1) 2) 3) Radiational cooling Influx of cold air (cold air advection) Air moving over a cold surface If forced to rise, stable air spreads horizontally, forming flat, layered clouds (stratus types) Sinking, stable air may create a subsidence inversion (found in most high pressure systems) Dr. Christopher M. Godfrey University of North Carolina at Asheville Photo: C. Godfrey ATMS 103 – Fall 2016 Neutral Air ATMS 103 – Fall 2016 Unstable Air Neutral air, if displaced, will remain in its new position Unstable air, if displaced vertically, will rise or descend until a parcel reaches the same temperature as its environment Causes of unstable air: 1) 2) 3) ATMS 103 – Fall 2016 Daytime solar heating Influx of warm air (warm air advection) Air moving over a warm surface Each of these mechanisms can destabilize the atmosphere! ATMS 103 – Fall 2016 Environment vs. Parcel Temperatures The temperature of a displaced air parcel is compared with the environmental temperature The vertical environmental temperature profile is given by the environmental lapse rate ATMS 103 – Fall 2016 1