Measuring Air
Warm air rises as gravity pulls cooler, denser air toward the surface of the earth. Generally, warm, unsaturated air cools at a rate of 5.5˚F/1,000 ft. as it rises until it reaches saturation.
By looking at the rate air rises, meteorologist can determine the stability of the atmosphere:
- If the temperature decreases to less than the surrounding environment, it will slow or stop rising- indicating that the atmosphere is stable.
- If the temperature is higher than surrounding environment, it will continue to rise and remain buoyant - indicating that the atmosphere is unstable.
