Question

Consider what you know about the atmosphere. Explain the following:

What is a temperature inversion?

Where do the temperature inversions occur in the atmosphere?

What causes the major temperature inversions in the atmosphere?

Answer 1

A temperature inversion is a thin layer of the atmosphere where the normal decrease in temperature with height switches to the temperature increasing with height.

Temperature inversions occur in the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface, known as the troposphere.

Warm air riding over cooler air beneath

Answer 2

The condition in which the temperature of the atmosphere enhances with height in comparison to the usual reduction of temperature with altitude is known as a temperature inversion. In case when the phenomenon of temperature inversion takes place, the cold air underlies warmer air at greater heights.

The phenomenon of temperature inversion takes place in the troposphere, that is, the layer of the atmosphere nearest to the surface of the Earth. It occurs when the cold layer of air near to the surface of the Earth gets enveloped with a layer of the warm layer.

The major temperature inversions in the atmosphere take place after rain with a frontal passage or with radiational cooling.