Editing Inversion (meteorology) (section)

{{short description|Deviation from the normal change of an atmospheric property with altitude}}
{{use mdy dates|date=July 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2020}}

[[File:Thermal Inversion in Urban Environment.png|thumb|Temperature inversion in an urban environment]]
[[File:Temperature inversion in the Lake District.jpg|alt=Temperature inversion in the Lake District|thumb|Temperature inversion in the [[Lake District]], [[England]], forms [[sea of clouds|clouds at a low level]] under clearer air.]]
[[File:SmokeCeilingInLochcarron.jpg|thumb|Smoke rising in [[Lochcarron]], [[Scotland]], is stopped by an overlying layer of warmer air (2006).]]
[[File:Smog_over_Almaty.jpg|thumb|Smog trapped over the city of [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]] during a temperature inversion.]]
[[File:Smoke-filled Canyons in AZ from ISS.jpeg|thumb|Smoke-filled canyons in [[Northern Arizona|northern]] [[Arizona]], 2019. During morning and evening hours, dense smoke often settles in low-lying areas and becomes trapped due to temperature inversions—when a layer within the lower atmosphere acts as a lid and prevents vertical mixing of the air. Steep canyon walls act as a horizontal barrier, concentrating the smoke within the deepest parts of the canyon and increasing the strength of the inversion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145692/smoke-filled-canyons-arizona?src=eoa-iotd |title=Smoke Filled Canyons, Arizona |publisher=[[NASA Earth Observatory]] |website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov}}</ref>]]

In [[meteorology]], an '''inversion''' (or '''temperature inversion''') is a phenomenon in which a layer of warmer air overlies cooler air. Normally, [[atmospheric temperature|air temperature]] gradually decreases as [[altitude]] increases, but this relationship is reversed in an inversion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=inversion |title=Glossary |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]'s [[National Weather Service]] |website=forecast.weather.gov |language=en-US |access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref>

An inversion traps [[air pollution]], such as [[smog]], near the ground. An inversion can also suppress [[atmospheric convection|convection]] by acting as a "cap". If this cap is broken for any of several reasons, convection of any [[humidity]] can then erupt into violent [[thunderstorm]]s. Temperature inversion can cause [[freezing rain]] in [[polar climate|cold climates]].