Modes Of Heat Transfer In The Atmosphere

Step 1: Understand atmospheric stability conditions. The stability of the atmosphere is determined by the temperature gradient with height: Normal condition: Temperature decreases with height (lapse rate).
Inversion: Temperature increases with height, which is an abnormal condition and leads to a stable atmosphere.
Neutral condition: The temperature remains constant with height.
Unstable condition: When the environmental lapse rate exceeds the adiabatic lapse rate, the atmosphere becomes unstable.

Step 2: Analyze the given scenario. In the question, the environmental temperature increases by 6 with height, indicating a temperature inversion.

Step 3: Select the correct stability condition. A temperature increase with height represents an inversion, leading to stable atmospheric conditions where vertical air movement is suppressed.