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← GeographyWhich mechanism causes atmospheric stability when air sinks within polar cells?
A)Adiabatic warming exceeding environmental lapse rate✓
B)Latent heat release during condensation
C)Entrainment of mid-latitude air masses
D)Orographic lift over continental ice sheets
💡 Explanation
When air descends in polar cells, adiabatic compression warms the air because the pressure increases, leading to a temperature increase per the dry adiabatic lapse rate that is potentially higher than the surrounding environmental lapse rate resulting in stable conditions. Therefore, atmospheric stability results, rather than instability, condensation release, or orographic lifting which require surface topography and different pressure changes.
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