Plain English Meaning

Whether the air wants to stay put or wants to keep moving up and down. Stable air settles back down when pushed; unstable air keeps rising or sinking once it gets started.

Full Definition

The tendency of the atmosphere to either resist or encourage vertical movement of air. A stable atmosphere resists vertical motion — air that is displaced upward or downward tends to return to its original level. An unstable atmosphere encourages vertical motion — air that is displaced continues moving in that direction, often producing strong updrafts, cumulus cloud development, and turbulence.

Context Anchor

Seen in weather theory, cloud formation, turbulence, thunderstorm development, and decisions.