latent instability

The state of that portion of a conditionally unstable air column lying above the level of free convection; latent instability is released only if an initial impulse on a parcel gives it sufficient kinetic energy to carry it through the layer below the level of free convection, within which the environment is warmer than the parcel.

Related terms:

• convective instability
• absolute instability
• conditional instability
• level of free convection
• baroclinic instability
• colloidal instability
• autoconvective instability
• instability line
• mechanical instability
• potential instability