OTHER TOPICS -----> Intro./Maps Atmosphere Pressure/Wind Moisture
Storms Forecasting Climates and Change Optics

MOISTURE/PRECIP CHAPTERS -----> Humidity Clouds Stability Precipitation

Stability

I.   ADIABATIC PROCESSES

A.   dry rate = 1°C/100m

B.   wet rate = 0.5°C/100m

C.   environmental rate = actual measured

II.   STABILITY

A. Stable Air (= warmer air over cooler)

B. Unstable Air (= cool over warm)

C. Conditionally Stable Air

D.   Visual Signs of Stability / Instability

III.   ADDITIONAL CONCEPTS

A.   Cloud Development -- Lifting Mechanisms

  1. convection
  2. orographic
  3. convergence
  4. frontal
B.   Adiabatic Charts or Thermodynamic Charts
  1. dry and moist adiabats
  2. marine layer
  3. potential temperature
    • moved to 1000mb using dry rate
  4. lifting condensation level (LCL)
    • level where air cools to dew point -- marks base of cloud
  5. convective temperature ("trigger temperature")

MOISTURE/PRECIP CHAPTERS -----> Humidity Clouds Stability Precipitation