Inversions

Question 1

What is a
Temp Inversion

Answer 1

Warm air sits above cold layer
- Very stable atmosphere
- Cold air likes to sit underneath cause its heavier
- If there is warm air that rises -> matches environment & stops quickly

Question 2

What is a
Radiation Inversion

Answer 2

• Forms Earths surface
• Clear Night -> Surface looses heat
• Layer above surface cools
• Thin surface layer becomes cool
• Gentle breeze mixes Warm & cold air - adds depth to inversion

Top of inversion =
- Turbulence & visibility increase
- Performance decreases

Question 3

What stops an inversion forming ?

Answer 3

Couds & Wind

-> Cloud block terrestrial radiation
-> wind mixes air to thoroughly & surface air can’t cool

Question 4

Difference in flight :
Above Inversion
&
Below inversion

Answer 4

Above Inversion =
- Clear skies
- decreased performance (warmer less dense air)

Below inversion =
- Turbulence, haze & smoke
increased performance

Question 5

What is a
Frontal Inversion

Answer 5

• Cold air moves into a region occupied by warm air
• Cold air slides underneath warm air & lifts it

Question 6

What is a
Subsidence Inversion

Answer 6

1) Air sinks -> & compresses (Adiabatic warming)
2) Air comes out of high Pressure & spreads horizontally over colder air - air then expands & cools
3) Convection = warm air particles in cold air mass rise
Form cumulus cld
4) cld forms & spreads horizontally at inversion boundary
5) after sunset convection in lower layers ceases -> cld dissipates

below inversion = Hazy & turbulent