Dr dereje inversion

Basic environmental engineering
Prepared by: Nahom Abebe Ru 1706/12

WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF ATMOSPHERIC INVERSIONS AND DISCUSS USING DIAGRAM .
1 WHAT IS INVERSION (TEMPERATURE INVERSION)

Temperature Inversion is a reversal of temperature behavior in the troposphere.
Under normal conditions, temperature usually decreases with increase in altitude in the troposphere
at a rate of 1 degree for every 165 meters. This is called normal lapse rate.
But on some occasions, the situations get reversed and temperature starts increasing with height
rather than decreasing. This is called temperature inversion.
Temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warm air lies over the layer of cold air in this
meteorological phenomenon. Cool air is closer to the ground and warmer air is higher.
Inversions play an important role in determining cloud forms, precipitation, and visibility.
An inversion acts as a cap on the upward movement of air from the layers below. Therefore,
convection produced by the heating of air from below is limited to levels below the inversion.
Temperature inversions are usually short-lived, but they are pretty common.
2 CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH TEMPERATURE INVERSION

OCCURS
Long winter nights: Loss of heat by terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night may
exceed the amount of incoming solar radiation.
Clear, Cloudless Sky: Clouds block the earth’s terrestrial radiation. But this radiation passes
unobstructed on cloudless days. So, the soil is cooled faster and so is the air that comes into contact.
Dry air near the ground surface: It limits the absorption of the radiated heat from the Earth’s
surface.
Slow movement of air: It results in no transfer or mixing of heat in the lower layers of the
atmosphere. or the blowing of winds brings warm and cold air into contact. Under conditions of a
calm atmosphere, the cold air stays put near the ground.
Ice-covered Area: In ice-covered areas due to high albedo less sunlight is received. At night due
to the earth’s radiation, most of the heat is lost in the atmosphere and the surface is cooled. The
contact air is also cooled but the upper layer remains warm.
3 CAUSES OF TEMPERATURE INVERSION

It is caused by static atmospheric conditions, although it can also be caused by horizontal or vertical
air movement.
As such the air is better able to mix and spread around pollutants. During an inversion episode,
temperatures increase with increasing altitude. The warm inversion layer then acts as a cap and
stops atmospheric mixing. This is why inversion layers are called stable air masses.
Additionally, temperature inversions occur in some coastal areas because upwelling of cold water
can decrease surface air temperature and the cold air
In addition, inversions can also form in areas with significant snow cover because the snow at
ground level is cold and its white color reflects almost all heat coming in. Thus, the air above the
snow is often warmer because it holds the reflected energy.
4 TYPES OF TEMPERATURE INVERSION

Temperature inversion occurs in several conditions ranging from ground surface to great heights.
Temperature inversion are classified on the basis of relative heights from the earth’s surface at which it
occurs and the type of air circulation:
4.1 SURFACE TEMPERATURE INVERSION (GROUND INVERSION)

Surface temperature inversion develops when air is cooled by contact with a colder surface until it
becomes cooler than the overlying atmosphere
This occurs most often on clear nights, when the ground cools off rapidly by radiation.
It’s often lead to the formation of fog, as they trap moisture close to the ground, hindering visibility.
It is very common in the higher latitudes. In lower and middle latitudes, it occurs during cold nights
and gets destroyed during day time.
This type of temperature inversion is prevalent at higher latitudes. In the lower and medium
altitudes, a surface temperature inversion occurs during cold nights and is removed throughout the
day.
4.2 SUBSIDENCE INVERSION (UPPER SURFACE TEMPERATURE INVERSION)

It is also called upper surface temperature inversion because it takes place in the upper parts of the
atmosphere.
When a widespread layer of air descends, it is compressed and heated by the resulting increase in
atmospheric pressure, and as a result the lapse rate of temperature is reduced.
The air at higher altitudes becomes warmer than at lower altitudes, producing a temperature
inversion. This type of temperature inversion is called subsidence inversion.
It is very common over the northern continents in winter (dry atmosphere) and over the subtropical
oceans; these regions generally have subsiding air because they are located under large high-
pressure centers.
4.3 FRONTAL INVERSION (ADVECTION TYPE OF INVERSION OF

TEMPERTURE)
It is also called Cyclonic inversion
When the warm and cold fronts meet, then the warm front rises up and being heavier the cold front
sinks down. It results in formation of Frontal Inversion.
It has considerable slope, whereas other inversions are nearly horizontal. It often takes place in the
temperate zone and causes cyclonic conditions which result in the precipitation in different forms.
A frontal inversion is unstable and is destroyed as the weather changes.
5 TEMPERATURE INVERSION EFFECTS

Temperature inversion determines the precipitation, forms of clouds, and also causes frost due to
condensation of warm air due to its cooling.
Dust particles hanging in the air: Due to inversion of temperature, air pollutants such as dust
particles and smoke do not disperse on the surface.
Stops the movement of air: It causes the stability of the atmosphere that stops the downward and
upward movement of air.
Less rainfall: Convection clouds can not move high upwards so there is less rainfall and no
showers. So, it causes a problem for agricultural productivity.
Thunderstorms and tornadoes: Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes are also associated with
inversion of temperature because of the intense energy that is released after an inversion blocks an
area’s normal convention patterns.
6 TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY

Surface temperature inversions play a major role in air quality, especially during the winter when
these inversions are the strongest.
The warm air above cooler air acts like a lid, suppressing vertical mixing and trapping the cooler
air at the surface.
As pollutants from vehicles, fireplaces, and industry are emitted into the air, the inversion traps
these pollutants near the ground, leading to poor air quality.
References
1. https://www.studyiq.com/articles/temperature-inversion/
2. https://www.britannica.com/science/absolute-zero
3. https://www.studyiq.com/articles/heat-waves/
4. 1598695048-temperature-inversion.pdf
5. Inversion%20Info.pdf

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Basic environmental engineering

Prepared by: Nahom Abebe Ru 1706/12

1 WHAT IS INVERSION (TEMPERATURE INVERSION)

2 CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH TEMPERATURE INVERSION

3 CAUSES OF TEMPERATURE INVERSION

4 TYPES OF TEMPERATURE INVERSION

4.1 SURFACE TEMPERATURE INVERSION (GROUND INVERSION)

4.2 SUBSIDENCE INVERSION (UPPER SURFACE TEMPERATURE INVERSION)

4.3 FRONTAL INVERSION (ADVECTION TYPE OF INVERSION OF

5 TEMPERATURE INVERSION EFFECTS

6 TEMPERATURE INVERSIONS IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY

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