Question

Temperature inversion, a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere (the region of the atmosphere nearest the Earth's surface), in which a layer of cool air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air. (Under normal conditions air temperature usually decreases with height.) Describe the relationship between a thermal inversion and pollution.

Answer 1

A temperature inversion in the troposphere creates a layer where cooler air below is trapped by warmer air above, leading to the accumulation of air pollutants near the ground. This situation can cause poor air quality and raise health concerns due to the concentration of pollution.

Step-by-step explanation:

A temperature inversion occurs in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. During a temperature inversion, the air closer to the surface is cooler than the air above it, which is the reverse of the typical temperature gradient in the troposphere where air temperature decreases with altitude. A result of this inversion is the trapping of air pollutants such as smog near the surface, leading to higher concentrations of pollutants and potential health hazards.

Normally, warmer air at the surface rises and disperses pollutants through convection. However, during an inversion, the layer of warmer air above acts as a "cap," preventing the cooler air containing pollutants from rising. This cap halts the mixing and dispersion of pollutants and keeps them near ground level, contributing to poor air quality and an increase in pollution-related problems.

Answer 2

There is a positive relationship between thermal inversion and pollution.

That is, the higher the occurrence of thermal inversion the higher the pollution. By the way, the type of pollution created by thermal inversion is Air Pollution.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thermal Inversion in itself does not create air pollution. A direct relationship with air pollution simply means that thermal inversion makes it hard for diffusion to occur. Diffusion makes air pollutants such as smog, dustless concentrated over a particular area over time.

Diffusion is triggered by conduction and convection which is suspended during a temperature inversion or reversal over normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere.

Cheers!