Convective instability

For a more general discussion of the same phenomenon, see Convective available potential energy.
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Convective Instability, denoted in the red highlighted region ("positive area"), on a Skew-T log-P diagram.

In meteorology, convective instability or stability of an air mass refers to its ability to resist vertical motion. A stable atmosphere makes vertical movement difficult, and small vertical disturbances dampen out and disappear. In an unstable atmosphere, vertical air movements (such as in orographic lifting, where an air mass is displaced upwards as it is blown by wind up the rising slope of a mountain range) tend to become larger, resulting in turbulent airflow and convective activity. Instability can lead to significant turbulence, extensive vertical clouds, and severe weather such as thunderstorms.[1]

  1. ^ "Weather Theory" (PDF). Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. United States Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. 2016. pp. 12–12–12–13.