What is a temperature inversion?

Question

I keep hearing our local meteoroligist talking about a temperature inversion in our area?

What is this?

Answer 1

A normal temprature system is colder at higher altitudes and warmer at the surface. However, due to the entrapment of gasses, smog, or fog at the surface, the tempratures can actually be colder at the surface than within the higher altitudes.



Because of this, temprature inversions are quite dangerous for surface low pressure zones which can cause dramatic weather patterns; some of these patters can become severe, such as surafce thuderstorms, extreme temprature drops, or massive rain storms.



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