What does a saturated air parcel indicate?

A saturated air parcel indicates that it has reached its dew point, the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and can no longer hold all the water vapor it contains. This means that the air is holding as much moisture as it can at that particular temperature, resulting in the formation of clouds or precipitation when further cooling occurs. In a saturated parcel, relative humidity is at 100%, which signifies a balance between the moisture present in the air and its capacity to hold it.

In contrast to the other choices, saturation specifically deals with the moisture content relative to temperature, while being 'fully dry' suggests a lack of moisture, which is the opposite of saturation. The ability to 'hold more moisture' applies to unsaturated air, where the humidity is less than 100%, meaning the air could absorb additional water vapor. The assertion of being 'stable and calm' does not directly relate to saturation since stability and calmness are influenced by factors like temperature gradients and weather dynamics, rather than the moisture content of the air.