Question

When is dry atmo air stable and unstable in regards to ELR and DALR?

Answer 1

Dry atmospheric air is stable when the ELR is less than the DALR, and unstable when the ELR is greater than the DALR.

Step-by-step explanation:

In meteorology, dry atmospheric air is stable when the environmental lapse rate (ELR) is less than the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR). The ELR refers to the rate at which the temperature of the air changes with height in the atmosphere, while the DALR represents the rate at which the temperature changes with height for a parcel of dry air.

If the ELR is less than the DALR, it means that the temperature of the surrounding air decreases more slowly with height compared to a parcel of dry air. As a result, the parcel of dry air will be colder and denser than the surrounding air, causing it to sink and remain stable.

On the other hand, if the ELR is greater than the DALR, the temperature of the surrounding air decreases more rapidly with height. In this case, a parcel of dry air will be warmer and less dense than the surrounding air, leading to its upward movement and causing instability in the atmosphere.

Answer 2

Dry atmospheric air stability is determined by comparing the Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) to the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR). Stable conditions are present when the ELR is below the DALR, while unstable conditions occur when the ELR exceeds the DALR.

Step-by-step explanation:

The stability of dry atmospheric (atmo) air in regards to the Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) and the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) depends on the comparison between these two rates. Stable air conditions occur when the ELR is less than the DALR. This means that the surrounding air cools at a slower rate with altitude compared to a rising parcel of dry air, which would then tend to sink back to its original position, as it becomes cooler and denser than the surrounding air. On the other hand, unstable air conditions arise when the ELR is greater than the DALR. In this scenario, a parcel of air that rises will continue to rise because it remains warmer and less dense than the surrounding air at the same altitude. Air stability significantly influences weather patterns, including cloud formation, precipitation, and storm development.