Question

If ELR exceeds ALR, the environmental lapse rate would be considered as:
A. An ELR
B. Lapse rate
C. Super adiabatic
D. Adiabatic lapse rate

Answer 1

ELR or the environmental lapse rate works antagonistically to the ALR or the adiabatic lapse rate. Hence when there is an increase in the environmental lapse rate, the adiabatic lapse rate becomes unstable.

Complete answer: When the environmental lapse rate exceeds the adiabatic lapse rate the environment becomes quirky and unstable as there is a quick dispersion of the pollutants in the atmosphere. This means that the pollutants spread out far and wide because the adiabatic lapse rate is lower than the environmental lapse rate.
So this ultimately results in the super adiabatic lapse rate or a condition when the ELR is more than the ALR.

Additional information: Earth's atmosphere is not isothermal.
The temperature decreases with a decrease in height.
The temperature lapse rate in an atmosphere is the rate of decrease of temperature with height; that is to call, it is $−dT/dz$.
An adiabatic atmosphere is one in which $P/ργ$ does not show variation with height.

Hence the correct option is (C), Super adiabatic.

Note: When the adiabatic lapse rate keeps on changing and becomes very unstable due to the high increase in the environmental lapse rate then this environment lapse rate gives rise to the super adiabatic lapse rate.