Structure and Development of Temperature Inversions in the Atmosphere

Abstract

MESSRS. Mal, Basu, and Desai have discussed recently¹ the subject of temperature inversions with dry air above them. Their forthcoming publication, in which the effects of turbulence and radiation are discussed quantitatively, will be welcomed by meteorologists. It is, however, scarcely correct to state that the present view implies that the discontinuity of temperature develops before that of humidity. Some years ago I discussed the prevailing ideas on this subject² (including a paragraph drawn up in collaboration with the late M. A. Giblett), and the view taken was rather that the discontinuities of humidity and of temperature develop simultaneously under the influence of a number of factors. The main emphasis was placed on the adiabatic warming of slowly descending air, with its greater effect on dry than on cloudy air, and on turbulence up to a limit which becomes gradually lower and more sharply defined. The importance of radiation in increasing existing discontinuities was mentioned, though no doubt it ought to have been stressed more strongly.