Atmospheric Instability and Cloud Development

• Q: On this diagram, where is cloud base?

• A: Where the parcel reaches saturation - 2 km

• Q: On this diagram, where is cloud top?

• A: Where the parcel will no longer be able to rise - 9 km

• Here, T_p = T_e - this is often referred to as the equilibrium level

• Here is another way to examine a growing cloud