Atmospheric Stability
Why is this Important?• A stable atmosphere is associated with air
pollution, fog, and strong surface temperature inversions in winter.
• An unstable atmosphere is associated with lots of atmospheric mixing, with good air quality and sometimes convection/thunderstorms.
• Meteorologists spend a lot of time trying to figure out whether the atmosphere will be stable or unstable
Stable Situation
Stable
Stable
Unstable
Unstable
Unstable
Unstable
Atmosphere Stability Varies
Lava Lamp: Instability
