superadiabatic lapse rate—A lapse rate greater than the dry-adiabatic lapse rate. See absolute instability.
supercooled water—Liquid water at temperatures colder than freezing.
superrefraction—See refraction.
The state of a column of air in the atmosphere when it has a superadiabatic lapse rate of temperature (i.e., greater than the dry-adiabatic lapse rate). An air parcel displaced vertically would be accelerated in the direction of the displacement.
The lapse rate over the water is often superadiabatic, so the descending air spilling off the edge of the plateau is still cooler than its surroundings when it reaches the coast, and the instability causes storms.
 See also: Energy, Stability, Air, Adiabatic, Temperature
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