gen-briefly-explain-temperature-inversions-and-one-common-miscon-c333

Briefly explain temperature inversions and one common misconception about it.

## Temperature Inversions **What it is:** A temperature inversion occurs when warm air sits above cooler air near the ground, reversing the normal pattern where temperature decreases with altitude. This creates a "lid" that traps air pollutants, fog, and smog close to the surface since the cooler air cannot rise through the warmer layer above. **Common misconception:** Many people think temperature inversions only occur in valleys or basins. While inversions are indeed more noticeable in these locations (where trapped pollutants accumulate visibly), they actually occur in many settings—over flat plains, cities, and even open water. They commonly form on clear, calm nights anywhere through radiational cooling, where the ground loses heat and cools the air directly above it.