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Which quantity becomes negative when symmetric instability is present?

  • A.The Brunt-Vaisala frequency, whose square becomes negative whenever any form of instability is present
  • B.The Coriolis parameter
  • C.The equivalent potential temperature, which falls below zero within the layer where the instability occurs
  • D.Moist potential vorticity

Answer: D

Negative moist potential vorticity in a saturated region is the standard diagnostic for conditional symmetric instability and is computed routinely from model output. The dry buoyancy frequency may remain positive throughout, which is precisely why the instability is missed by ordinary stability assessment. Equivalent potential temperature is measured in kelvin and cannot be negative. Most errors here come from carrying a result across from a neighbouring case where it does not hold.

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