Which is the favourable condition for phenomenon of Inversion of temperature ?

The correct answer is Winter night with clear skies and still air.

Key Points

• Inversion of temperature typically occurs during winter nights when the ground loses heat rapidly.
• Clear skies facilitate the rapid loss of heat from the Earth's surface by radiation.
• Still air conditions prevent the mixing of air layers, allowing cooler air to settle near the surface.
• The phenomenon is more common in valleys and low-lying areas where cold air can accumulate.
• This inversion layer can trap pollutants close to the ground, leading to poor air quality.

Additional Information

• Temperature Inversion:
  • It is a reversal of the normal behavior of temperature in the troposphere, where a layer of cooler air at the surface is overlain by a layer of warmer air.
  • This phenomenon can lead to various meteorological effects and impact weather patterns.
• Radiation Cooling:
  • This is the process by which the Earth's surface loses heat through radiation during the night.
  • Clear skies enhance radiation cooling, which is crucial for the formation of temperature inversions.
• Advection Inversion:
  • This type of inversion occurs when warm air moves over a cooler surface, cooling from below.
  • It typically happens over coastal areas where warm air from the sea moves over the cooler land.
• Environmental Impacts:
  • Temperature inversion can lead to the trapping of pollutants, causing smog and health issues.
  • It is also associated with frost formation and impacts on agriculture.