Which feature is commonly associated with the presence of a trough in the atmosphere?

The presence of a trough in the atmosphere is commonly associated with lower pressure. A trough is an elongated area of relatively low pressure that typically forms within a larger pattern of weather systems, such as a cyclone or the mid-latitude westerlies.

In meteorology, troughs are significant because they are often associated with rising air. As air ascends in a trough, it can lead to the development of clouds and precipitation. The formation of lower pressure in these areas is due to the rising motion of air, which creates a vacuum effect where the surface pressure decreases.

While other options may correlate with specific weather conditions, they do not directly represent the characteristic associated with a trough. For instance, increased stability is usually linked with ridges, not troughs, and while troughs can produce strong winds, this is not a defining feature. Similarly, cold surface temperatures can occur in troughs but are not necessarily a direct association, as surface temperatures depend on multiple factors beyond just the trough's presence. Thus, lower pressure is the most accurate choice linked with the atmospheric feature of a trough.