Temperature Inversion - Notes | Geography for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
TEMPERATURE INVERSION  
 
Temperature inversion, a reversal of the normal behaviour 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.) 
EXAMPLE: 
- MOUNTAIN BREEZE  
A breeze that blows down a mountain slope due to the gravitational flow 
of cooled air. Also known as mountain wind. 
 
FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR TEMPERATURE INVERSION  
- Long winter night 
 Loss of heat by Terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night 
may exceed the amount of insolation received and thus the ground surface 
becomes too cold.  
- Cloudless and clear sky  
Loss of heat through Terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without 
any obstruction  
Cloud absorb Terrestrial radiation and hence return loss of heat from 
earth surface.  
- Presence of dry air near the ground surface  
Page 2


 
 
TEMPERATURE INVERSION  
 
Temperature inversion, a reversal of the normal behaviour 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.) 
EXAMPLE: 
- MOUNTAIN BREEZE  
A breeze that blows down a mountain slope due to the gravitational flow 
of cooled air. Also known as mountain wind. 
 
FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS FOR TEMPERATURE INVERSION  
- Long winter night 
 Loss of heat by Terrestrial radiation from the ground surface during night 
may exceed the amount of insolation received and thus the ground surface 
becomes too cold.  
- Cloudless and clear sky  
Loss of heat through Terrestrial radiation proceeds more rapidly without 
any obstruction  
Cloud absorb Terrestrial radiation and hence return loss of heat from 
earth surface.  
- Presence of dry air near the ground surface  
 
 
Moist air is capable of absorbing much of the Radiant heat from the Earth 
surface  
- Static air for slow movement of air 
 No transfer and mixing of heat in lower layers of the atmosphere  
- Snow covered ground surface 
Maximum reflection of insolation