The stability of the atmosphere is related to its ability to:

The stability of the atmosphere is fundamentally linked to its capacity to resist vertical motion of air. When the atmosphere is stable, it tends to inhibit air from rising, which means that any upward movements of air parcels will decay and return to their original position. This resistance to vertical motion results in a more stratified structure of the atmosphere, where denser, cooler air remains at lower altitudes and warmer, less dense air is found above it.

In a stable atmosphere, the temperature typically decreases with altitude at a slower rate than in an unstable atmosphere. This can lead to clear skies and calm weather conditions since the lack of vertical movement limits the development of convective currents that are often responsible for cloud formation and precipitation.

In contrast, an unstable atmosphere encourages vertical air movement, which is associated with convection, leading to weather phenomena such as thunderstorms. Given this understanding, the option describing the atmosphere's role in resisting vertical movement aligns correctly with the concept of atmospheric stability.