convective instability

The state of an unsaturated layer or column of air in the atmosphere whose wet-bulb potential temperature (or equivalent potential temperature) decreases with elevation. Also known as potential instability.

Related terms:

• absolute instability
• latent instability
• conditional instability
• baroclinic instability
• convective condensation level
• instability line
• autoconvective instability
• mechanical instability
• potential instability
• wet-bulb temperature