Atmospheric Instability - Cause of Instability

Cause of Instability

Whether or not the atmosphere has stability depends partially on the moisture content. In a very dry troposphere, temperature decreases with height less than 9.8C per kilometer ascent indicate stability, while greater changes indicate instability. This lapse rate is known as the dry adiabatic lapse rate. In a troposphere which is completely moist, temperature decreases with height less than 6C per kilometer ascent indicate stability, while greater changes indicate instability. In the range between 6C and 9.8C temperature decreases per kilometer ascent, the term conditionally unstable is used.