3 ms·
>As this warm air collides with cooler air from above, it forms an “inversion” layer of warmer air layered over cold air, which traps the ions. I think this is
by whatshisface 2y ago
>As this warm air collides with cooler air from above, it forms an “inversion” layer of warmer air layered over cold air, which traps the ions.
I think this is reversed, inversions are usually cold air sitting atop warmer air. (Warmer air is lighter, defining the typical sequence with which an inversion is relative to.)
- histriosum 2y agoYou aren't quite right here. Temperature inversions are when the atmosphere warms as you go up instead of cools. The atmosphere usually cools at a fairly constant rate as you go up, at least in the troposphere. This layer of warmer air aloft acts as a cap, limiting vertical motion from rising air parcels from below (which are cooler than the air aloft and thus cannot rise through the inversion).
- soared 2y agoYou are correct afaik - warm air would not trap cold air below it as it would move up, only a layer of could air could trap warm air below it. Some visualizations show air cold/warm/cold, where as others are just warm air under cold air.
- e44858 2y agoInversions usually happen when the ground is cooling faster than the air above, due to radiative cooling. That results in a layer of warm air sandwiched between cold air above and below.