1. What is a temperature inversion in the atmosphere?

2. Where do the temperature inversions occur in the atmosphere?

3. What causes the major temperature inversions in the atmosphere?

1. temperature inversion, condition in which the temperature of the atmosphere increases with altitude in contrast to the normal decrease with altitude. When temperature inversion occurs, cold air underlies warmer air at higher altitudes.

2. In meteorology, temperature inversions occur in the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface, known as the troposphere. Temperature inversions in the atmosphere occur when a cool layer of air close to the Earth's surface is covered by a warm layer above.

3. Temperatures get warmer as go aloft. This happens a lot after rain with radiational cooling, or a frontal passage.