In meteorology, the stability of the atmosphere in the vertical direction to vertical displacements. If \(\mathit{\Gamma}\) is the dry adiabatic lapse rate, dry air is stable if the lapse rate \(-\frac{{\rm{d}}T}{{\rm{d}}z} \lt \Gamma\), unstable if \(-\frac{{\rm{d}}T}{{\rm{d}}z} \gt \Gamma\) and neutral \(-\frac{{\rm{d}}T}{{\rm{d}}z} = \Gamma\).