Inversion of temperature is a meteorological phenomenon characterized by a departure from the typical decrease in temperature with increasing altitude in the Earth’s atmosphere. Unlike the normal lapse rate, where temperature usually decreases as one ascends, inversion occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface. This atmospheric condition has significant implications for local weather patterns, impacting air quality, precipitation, and temperature distribution. Imagine a typical winter morning in a valley, where the ground cools rapidly overnight. If a layer of warmer air aloft prevents this cooler air from rising, an inversion forms, leading to the trapping of pollutants and the creation of fog, exemplifying how inversion can profoundly influence local weather dynamics. This inversion phenomenon plays a crucial role in shaping the microclimates and atmospheric conditions experienced in specific geographic areas.
Answer
Inversion of temperature i.e. the increasing of temperature at higher heights and lower temperature at the ground can occur in many ways such as:
- Surface inversion:
● By radiation: surface loses heat rapidly e.g. deserts at night with no clouds and drier conditions during long winter nights.
● By advection: displacement of warm air close to the surface e.g airmass subsiding along
the valley slope in hills and frontal activity in temperate regions. - Upper air inversion:
● Stratospheric inversion: due to absorption of UV by the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
● Chimney pollution: hot air bellowing from high chimneys, and brick kilns causes higher upper layer temperatures.- Mechanical inversion: by subsidence of upper air ( anticyclonic conditions) in horse latitudes.
The inversion of temperature has the following significance on the local weather:
- Increased pollution in urban areas:
● mainly in urban areas; during shallow inversion(upto 58 m) high local emissions lead to increased particulate matter( PM 2.5, PM 10) leading to health hazards.
E.g. Delhi’s average PM 2.5 level was 126.5ug/m3 in 2021( 25 times more than the WHO
guidelines). - Facilitates agricultural processes:
● early morning dew helps plants prevent transpiration therefore avoiding heat stress and dessication.
● Dew helps productivity of rabi crops( wheat) and horticulture( oranges).
● Impacts the choice of location e.g. coffee growers of Brazil and Indian hotelier industry in hill stations e.g. Shimla.
● Facilitates better pesticide application due to near-surface movement of cold air. ( more area coverage) - Administrative significance:
● leads to increased accidents in urban cities due to poor visibility. E.g lucknow saw a 30% increase in accidents during 2 days in November 2017.
● Delays flights, and transport(trucks) leading to loss of time and money. E.g. DGCA’s approval for flights in 2021 leading to higher plane fares.
Therefore inversion of temperature can be both detrimental as wella s facilitating. Steps can be taken to minimize its detrimental effects:
- Greenhouses for crops during excessive dips in temperatures.
- Anti-smog guns for removal of smog and smog towers for checking particulate matter in ambient surroundings.
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