Question

Do the following processes make conditions more stable or less stable?

Nocturnal radiative cooling at the earth's surface:
More stable
Less stable

Correct: Radiative cooling at the earth's surface decreases the lapse rate and frequently results in an inversion.
Incorrect: Radiative cooling at the earth's surface decreases the lapse rate and frequently results in an inversion.

Cold air flowing over a warm lake surface:
More stable
Less stable

Correct: Flow over a lake tends to warm and moisten the air at low levels. Both processes act to destabilize the atmosphere.
Incorrect: Flow over a lake tends to warm and moisten the air at low levels. Both processes act to destabilize the atmosphere.

Warm air flowing over a snow surface:
More stable
Less stable

Correct: Since the temperature of snow cannot rise above 0°C, air, the warm air cools in contact with snow. Such cooling at low levels stabilizes the atmosphere.
Incorrect: Since the temperature of snow cannot rise above 0°C, air, which is warmer than that cools in contact with snow. Such cooling at low levels stabilizes the atmosphere.

Solar heating of the earth's surface:
More stable
Less stable

Correct: Solar heating of the surface conductively warms the air immediately above it. This process tends to steepen lapse rates and can result in superadiabatic lapse rates.
Incorrect: Solar heating of the surface conductively warms the air immediately above it. This process tends to steepen lapse rates and can result in superadiabatic lapse rates.
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