Question

A temperature inversion is the result of

a. precipitation.
b. cold air drainage.
c. a layer of warm air lying atop cooler air near the ground.
d. a cold blanket of air that prevents warm air from rising.
e. mixing of cool and warm air.

Answer 1

A temperature inversion refers to a deviation from the normal change of temperature with altitude. It occurs when warmer air is held above cooler air, resulting in a reversed temperature profile.

Step-by-step explanation:

An inversion, or temperature inversion, in meteorology, refers to a deviation from the normal change of temperature with altitude. Normally, the temperature decreases as altitude increases. However, during an inversion, warmer air is held above cooler air, resulting in a reversed temperature profile. For example, a temperature inversion can occur when a layer of warm air lies atop cooler air near the ground. This can happen on clear nights when the ground cools rapidly, creating cooler air near the surface. If there is a layer of warm air above this cooler layer, it can act as a blanket, trapping the cooler air near the ground and causing a temperature inversion. Temperature inversions can have various effects on weather and air quality. They can trap air pollution, such as smog, close to the ground. Inversions can also suppress convection, which can lead to the formation of thunderstorms if the inversion is broken.