What is a temperature inversion?

An Introduction to Physical Science
14th Edition
ISBN:9781305079137
Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Publisher:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
Chapter19: The Atmosphere
Section: Chapter Questions
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What is a temperature inversion?

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Step 1
The temperature of the air normally decreases with altitude.
Temperature inversion is a condition in which the temperature of the
atmosphere increases with altitude as opposed to the typical decline
with altitude. At the point when temperature inversion happens, cold
air underlies warm air at higher altitudes. The reason for temperature
inversion is the overnight cooling by radiation of surface air in the
troposphere (the region of the atmosphere nearest the Earth's surface).
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