How Much Lift is Needed for Release of Instability?

Sounding plotted on skew-T diagram

In practical application, it is instructive to examine the minimum amount of lifting whereby potential instability may be released. This can be done by choosing the parcel with the highest relative humidity in the layer of interest and lifting the parcel to saturation on the skew-T diagram. This is the minimum lift required to initiate the release of potential stability.

For the 1000-800 hPa layer in this sounding, what is the minimum lift needed for the release of potential instability?
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Minimum Lift = hPa

Answer: The Minimum Lift = 110 hPa.
The highest relative humidity (RH) in the 1000-850 hPa layer, as indicated by the minimum dewpoint depression, occurs at 900 hPa. The lifting condensation level (LCL) for a parcel at 900 hPa lies at about 790 hPa. Thus, 110 hPa of lift is the minimum required to initiate the release of potential instability.
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