Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of stable air?

Stable air is characterized by a number of distinct traits that contribute to its overall behavior and conditions. One of the primary characteristics is smooth air, which indicates that there are typically fewer disturbances and turbulent currents within stable air masses. This smoothness is a result of the air's tendency to resist vertical motion.

Additionally, stable air often leads to steady precipitation rather than severe or variable weather patterns. This is because stable air encourages gradual lifting, meaning precipitation is more likely to occur uniformly over time, resulting in gentle rain rather than heavy showers or thunderstorms.

Moreover, stable air is sometimes associated with fair to poor visibility, especially if there are clouds or fog as a result of temperature inversions, where warmer air traps cooler air at the surface, creating a stable layer.

In contrast, rough turbulence is not a characteristic of stable air. Turbulence is typically a feature of unstable air, where vertical mixing and significant weather phenomena occur, such as convection or thunderstorms. Therefore, identifying rough turbulence as the choice that does not align with the characteristics of stable air confirms a clear understanding of how stable and unstable air masses behave differently.