What defines a super adiabatic lapse rate?

A super adiabatic lapse rate is characterized by the environmental lapse rate (ELR) being greater than 3 degrees Celsius per 1000 feet. This condition means that the temperature decreases more rapidly with altitude than the adiabatic lapse rate for dry air, which is approximately 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit per 1000 feet, or about 1.98 degrees Celsius per 1000 feet. When the ELR exceeds this threshold, it indicates that the atmosphere is becoming unstable.

In this unstable environment, rising air parcels, which are generally warmer than their surrounding atmosphere, will continue to rise and accelerate due to their buoyancy. This phenomenon is crucial for the formation of convection currents and can lead to weather events like thunderstorms.

For clarity, other potential choices do not align with the definition of a super adiabatic lapse rate. The conditions indicating stable air would be characterized by smaller lapse rates, while references to sea level or specific thresholds less than 3 degrees/1000 feet do not relate to the identifying factors of a super adiabatic lapse rate.