What Is Instability?
When the atmosphere lets a bubble of air keep rising once nudged, the way a ball rolls away from a hilltop. It is key for thunderstorms. In technical terms: A state in which small perturbations amplify; static instability exists when an environmental lapse rate exceeds the relevant adiabatic rate, quantified by CAPE and lifted index.
Instability In Plain English
When the atmosphere lets a bubble of air keep rising once nudged, the way a ball rolls away from a hilltop. It is key for thunderstorms.
The Technical Definition
A state in which small perturbations amplify; static instability exists when an environmental lapse rate exceeds the relevant adiabatic rate, quantified by CAPE and lifted index. Other forms include baroclinic, inertial and symmetric instability.
Lessons That Use Instability
- Humidity, Dew Point And Saturation Unit 1: The Atmosphere
