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A capping inversion is an elevated inversion layer
Inversion layer

Inversion layer may refer to one of the following:*Inversion , a layer within which an atmospheric property is inverted, i.e., its change is deviated from the normal pattern...
 that caps a convective boundary layer
Planetary boundary layer

The planetary boundary layer , also known as the atmospheric boundary layer , is the lowest part of the atmosphere and its behavior is directly influenced by its contact with a planetary surface....
.

The boundary layer is the part of the atmosphere which is closest to the ground. Normally, the sun heats the ground, which in turn heats the air just above it. Thermal
Thermal

A thermal column is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and an example of convection....
s form when this warm air rises into the cold air (warm air is less dense
Density

The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol of density is ....
 than cold air), a process known as convection
Convection

Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of molecules within fluids . Convection is one of the major modes of heat transfer and mass transfer....
. A convective layer such as this has the potential for cloud formation, since condensation
Condensation

Condensation is the change of the physical state of aggregation of matter from gaseous phase into liquid phase. When the transition happens from the gaseous phase into the solid phase directly, bypassing the liquid phase the change is called Deposition , which is the opposite of sublimation....
 occurs as the warm air rises and cools.

An inversion layer is when the normal temperature (warm air below, cold air above) profile is reversed, creating a stable configuration of dense, cold air sitting below lighter, warm air.






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Encyclopedia


A capping inversion is an elevated inversion layer
Inversion layer

Inversion layer may refer to one of the following:*Inversion , a layer within which an atmospheric property is inverted, i.e., its change is deviated from the normal pattern...
 that caps a convective boundary layer
Planetary boundary layer

The planetary boundary layer , also known as the atmospheric boundary layer , is the lowest part of the atmosphere and its behavior is directly influenced by its contact with a planetary surface....
.

The boundary layer is the part of the atmosphere which is closest to the ground. Normally, the sun heats the ground, which in turn heats the air just above it. Thermal
Thermal

A thermal column is a column of rising air in the lower altitudes of the Earth's atmosphere. Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth's surface from solar radiation, and an example of convection....
s form when this warm air rises into the cold air (warm air is less dense
Density

The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol of density is ....
 than cold air), a process known as convection
Convection

Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of molecules within fluids . Convection is one of the major modes of heat transfer and mass transfer....
. A convective layer such as this has the potential for cloud formation, since condensation
Condensation

Condensation is the change of the physical state of aggregation of matter from gaseous phase into liquid phase. When the transition happens from the gaseous phase into the solid phase directly, bypassing the liquid phase the change is called Deposition , which is the opposite of sublimation....
 occurs as the warm air rises and cools.

An inversion layer is when the normal temperature (warm air below, cold air above) profile is reversed, creating a stable configuration of dense, cold air sitting below lighter, warm air. An elevated inversion layer is thus a region of warm air above a region of cold air, but higher in the atmosphere (generally not touching the surface).

A capping inversion occurs when there is a boundary layer with a normal temperature profile (warm air rising into cooler air) and the layer above that is an inversion layer (cooler air below warm air). Cloud formation from the lower layer is "capped" by the inversion layer. If the capping inversion layer or "cap" is too strong (too close to the surface), it will prevent thunderstorms from developing. A strong cap can result in fog
Fog

Fog is a cloud bank that is in contact with the ground. A cloud may be considered partly fog; for example, the part of a cloud that is suspended in the air above the ground is not considered fog, whereas the part of the cloud that comes in contact with higher ground is considered fog....
gy conditions.

However, if the air at the surface is unstable
Convective instability

Convective instability is a form of fluid instability found in thermally stratified atmospheres in which a colder fluid overlies a warmer one....
 enough, strong updrafts can be forced through the capping inversion. This selective process of only allowing the strongest updrafts to form thunderstorm
Thunderstorm

File:FoggDam-NT.jpgA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its effect: thunder....
s often results in outbreaks of severe weather
Severe weather

Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property....
.

See also

  • Convective available potential energy
    Convective available potential energy

    In meteorology, convective available potential energy , sometimes, simply, available potential energy , is the amount of energy a air parcel of air would have if lifted a certain distance vertically through the atmosphere....
  • Convective inhibition
    Convective inhibition

    Convective inhibition is a numerical measure in meteorology that indicates the amount of energy that will prevent an air parcel from rising from the surface to the level of free convection....


External links

  • - AMS Glossary of Meteorology
  • - National Science Digital Library