What is atmospheric stability? What are adiabatic processes and how are they related to atmospheric stability?
What will be an ideal response?
Stability is the tendency of an air parcel to either remain in place or to change vertical position by ascending or descending. An air parcel is stable if it resists displacement or returns to its starting place after disturbance. The stability of an air parcel depends on the temperature inside the parcel and the temperature of the surrounding air. As air ascends, it is cooled by expansion and as it descends, it is heated by compression. These cooling and heating mechanisms are adiabatic, that is occurring without a loss of gain of heat (heat exchange between the surrounding environment and the ascending or descending parcel).
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This globe from the atmospheric moisture investigation shows specific humidity, with blue and green being highest. What feature most likely coincides with the area of highest specific humidity?
A) The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
B) The subtropics
C) The belt of westerlies
D) The polar easterlies
Prior to 1846, what country shared governance of the Oregon Territory with the United States?
A) The French B) The Russians C) The British D) The Spanish
From this graph, one should conclude that
A. most of the energy input into the system goes toward changing state, not to change temperature. B. most of the energy input into the system goes toward changing temperature not changing state. C. most of the energy input into the system goes toward a more ordered, rigid, molecular structure. D. None of these options are correct.
Mount St. Helens and the related Cascade Range volcanoes represent the only volcanically active areas in the United States.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)