In a conditionally unstable atmosphere, the environmental lapse rate will be ____ the moist adiabatic rate and ____ the dry adiabatic rate.
A)greater than; less than
B)greater than; greater than
C)less than; greater than
D)less than; less than
E)the same as; the same as

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a conditionally unstable atmosphere, the environmental lapse rate is greater than the moist adiabatic rate but less than the dry adiabatic rate. This means that the atmosphere is stable to unsaturated air parcels (which cool at the dry adiabatic rate when lifted) but becomes unstable if the air parcel is saturated (since it then cools at the slower moist adiabatic rate upon lifting).

In a Conditionally Unstable Atmosphere, the Environmental Lapse Rate Will