SUPERADIABATIC

A level in the atmosphere occurring right above the surface, where the decrease in temperature with height is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate. This condition is absolutely unstable for both dry and moist convection. The atmosphere will immediately overturn to reduce this instability and return the lapse rate to dry adiabatic, but continued insolation and surface heating can act to preserve this superadiabatic lapse rate.