adiabat

On a thermodynamic or aerological diagram, this generic name is given to each of the lines showing the behavior of the temperature experienced by a parcel or bubble of air as it ascends or descends through the atmosphere, subjected to an adiabatic process. Depending on whether the air in that parcel is considered dry or saturated, the so-called dry adiabats (straight lines) and the wet or saturated adiabats (curved lines) appear plotted on the diagram in question. With the help of these and other auxiliary lines, the degree of atmospheric instability can be analyzed from the data obtained by a radiosounding.