CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY

Also known as potential instability. If the wet-bulb or equivalent potential temperature decreases with height, then the atmosphere is convectively (potentially) unstable. It is an indication that the atmosphere has potential for convection if lifting of the atmosphere as a whole occurs. This lifting, typical ahead of shortwaves or synoptic- scale wave cyclones, can change an absolutely stable layer in a sounding (for example, one associated with a temperature inversion) to one that is conditionally unstable.