Which of the following statements is not correct with respect to the i...
- Normally, temperature decreases with increase in elevation. It is called normal lapse rate. At times, the situations is reversed and the normal lapse rate is inverted. It is called Inversion of temperature
- A long winter night with clear skies and still air is ideal situation for inversion. The heat of the day is radiated off during the night, and by early morning hours, the earth is cooler than the air above.
- Over polar areas, temperature inversion is normal throughout the year. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.
- Prominent effects of temperature inversion include –
- Increased air pollution and reduced visibility: Inversion prevents movement of smoke, dust particles and other pollutants and keeps them trapped in the lower layer of the atmosphere. The resulting smog like conditions cause breathing problems along with reduced visibility.
- Reduced precipitation: Due to stability in the lower atmospheric layers and resultant lack of vertical movement of moist air, convective clouds do not grow high enough for rainfall to take place.
- The inversion takes place in hills and mountains due to air drainage. Cold air at the hills and mountains, produced during night, flows under the influence of gravity.
- Being heavy and dense, the cold air acts almost like water and moves down the slope to pile up deeply in pockets and valley bottoms with warm air above. This is called air drainage. It protects plants from frost damages.
Which of the following statements is not correct with respect to the i...
Explanation:
Polar areas rarely witness temperature inversion due to lower temperatures.
Temperature inversion refers to a layer of the atmosphere where the normal decrease in temperature with height is reversed, resulting in an increase in temperature with height. It is commonly observed in the lower atmosphere, particularly during stable weather conditions.
Temperature Inversion in Polar Areas:
In polar areas, the temperatures are already extremely low, and the temperature gradient is steep. The cold air near the surface tends to sink and displace the warmer air above it. This process creates a stable atmospheric condition that prevents the mixing of air masses and inhibits the formation of temperature inversions.
Why Polar Areas Rarely Witness Temperature Inversion:
1. Low Temperatures: Polar areas already experience very low temperatures, and the temperature inversion typically occurs when warmer air is trapped above colder air. In polar regions, the low temperatures prevent the formation of such inversions.
2. Constant Mixing: The polar regions are characterized by strong winds and constant mixing of air masses. These mixing processes prevent the development of stable atmospheric conditions necessary for temperature inversion.
3. Lack of Sunlight: Polar areas experience long periods of darkness, especially during winter. The absence of sunlight limits the heating of the surface, resulting in less vertical mixing and reduced chances of temperature inversion.
4. Unstable Weather Conditions: Polar areas often experience cyclonic activity, which leads to frequent weather disturbances and vertical mixing of air masses. These disturbances disrupt the stability required for temperature inversion.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the statement that "polar areas rarely witness temperature inversion due to lower temperatures" is incorrect. Polar areas rarely witness temperature inversion due to a combination of factors such as constant mixing of air masses, lack of sunlight, and unstable weather conditions, rather than just lower temperatures alone.
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