In an absolutely stable atmosphere, what will happen to a rising parcel of air?

In an absolutely stable atmosphere, a rising parcel of air is unable to continue ascending because it is denser than the surrounding air at that altitude. When the parcel rises, it encounters lower pressure and cooler temperatures, which causes it to expand and cool. The cooling air parcel becomes less buoyant relative to the surrounding environment and will thus tend to sink back to its original position.

This phenomenon occurs because in a stable atmosphere, any upward movement disturbs the natural equilibrium of the air layers, leading the parcel to experience a force that drives it back down. Stability means that the environmental lapse rate (the rate of temperature change with altitude in the surrounding air) is less than the parcel's lapse rate, ensuring that the parcel does not have enough buoyancy to maintain its ascent.

In contrast, a rising parcel that does not sink would indicate an unstable or neutral atmospheric condition, where it may either continue rising or remain at a constant altitude. But in absolute stability, the tendency of the air parcel is to return to its original level.