absolute stability

absolute stability

[′ab·sə‚lüt stə′bil·ə·dē] (meteorology) The state of a column of air in the atmosphere when its lapse rate of temperature is less than the saturation-adiabatic lapse rate.

absolute stability

As it relates to meteorology, an atmospheric condition in which the observed lapse rate is less than the saturated adiabatic lapse rate. A mass of air once pushed up will tend to come back to its original level and not rise. This is because it will be cooler than the surrounding air, as its lapse rate is less than the dry and saturated adiabatic lapse rates.