Drone Pilot Practice Exam

The effect of unstable lapse rates on air mass behavior is that they promote vertical development and storm formation. An unstable lapse rate occurs when the temperature decreases rapidly with altitude, which creates conditions where the air near the surface is warmer and less dense than the air above it. This temperature difference causes the warmer air to rise, leading to convection currents. As the warm air ascends, it cools and can form clouds, which may develop further into thunderstorms and other types of severe weather.

In contrast, calm and stable air is associated with stable lapse rates, where temperature decreases very gradually with altitude. Temperature inversions, where warmer air traps cooler air below, are also indicative of stable conditions rather than instability. Additionally, while some air masses may exhibit minimal effects under certain circumstances, unstable lapse rates typically lead to active weather patterns, making it clear that unstable conditions significantly influence air mass behavior.