Which conditions are typical in an unstable air environment?

In an unstable air environment, warm air rises rapidly due to its buoyancy, leading to significant vertical development of clouds. This is characteristic of showery precipitation and cumuliform clouds, which include towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds form because the ground heating intensifies the updrafts, creating a situation conducive to turbulence and convective activity. Showery precipitation is a direct result of this vertical development, where rain can fall heavily and then stop suddenly as the updrafts strengthen or weaken.

The other options describe characteristics of stable air conditions or different cloud formations. For instance, stratiform clouds are typically associated with stable air, where the atmosphere is less conducive to vertical movement. Clouds with a flat base and uniform dimensions are indicative of stable conditions as well, reflecting a lack of turbulent mixing. Similarly, calm winds with no turbulence are associated with stable air, which contrasts sharply with the dynamic and often turbulent conditions found in an unstable environment. Thus, option B accurately captures the essence of instability through the formation of showery precipitation and cumuliform clouds.