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top of the inversion layer [1 record]

Record 1 2005-05-16

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
CONT

The top of the inversion layer is where the air reaches its highest temperature. The air below that level cannot ascend. (Because each parcel of air below has a cooler temperature, it is therefore denser, and gravity keeps it trapped in place.)

CONT

Warm air has formed a layer on top of cooler surface air. This layer is called the temperature inversion. This means that temperatures actually rise as we measure farther up into the air. Little or no mixing occurs and concentrations of atmospheric particulate pollution and vapors are trapped below the level where temperatures again decrease with altitude. This point is referred to as the top of the inversion. Inversions can occur at the surface or aloft in the atmosphere.

CONT

... a hot-air or gas balloon attempting to descend through a subsidence inversion will find, first, a possible bump or hesitancy of the balloon to "bust" through the top of the inversion. Once through the top of the inversion, the balloon may require much more lift than was required above the inversion top to maintain the same rate of descent.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
CONT

Stratopause [signifie le] sommet de la couche d'inversion dans la stratosphère supérieure, situé vers 50 à 55 km [...]

CONT

La couche d'inversion faisait environ 600 ou 700 mètres de haut. Nous décollions [en montgolfière] des environ d'Eugénie les bains, sur un plateau. [...] La visibilité horizontale était cependant limitée du fait de l'inversion. Nous décidons donc d'atteindre le sommet de l'inversion.

OBS

couche d'inversion : Couche de l'atmosphère dans laquelle la température augmente ou demeure constante avec l'altitude.

Spanish

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