Question

The primary cause of a radiation inversion is:
A) Infrared radiation emitted by the earth's surface
B) Infrared radiation absorbed by the earth's surface
C) Solar radiation absorbed by the earth's surface
D) Solar radiation reflected by the earth's surface

Answer 1

Hint: Radiation inversion is the process by which a cold layer of air is formed adjacent to the ground surface which is cooled by the loss of radiation or heat which in turn increases with the increase in height and temperature.

Complete answer:
Radiation inversions usually happen in places where it cools off a lot at night comparatively. During the night, the ground cools off, radiating the heat to the sky hence hotter air is kept above the cold air and normal temperature profile in that area will get inverted with the increasing height. Hence, an inversion is formed. It is because of radiation inversions that there is fog in the morning.
The radiation inversion traps the moisture resulting in formation of clouds under the inversion layer resulting in fog or smog, depending where you live. These clouds will lift either when a wind comes through and blows them away or when the sun heats the inversion layer thereby allowing the clouds to disperse.
Radiation inversion can lead to trapping of the air pollutants, smog or dust particles if the humidity levels in that area are high.
Hence we can say that option A is correct which states that Infrared radiation emitted by the earth's surface is the primary cause of a radiation inversion.

Note:
Radiation Inversion is a rare condition when the elevated radiation inversions are formed because cooling creates a relatively low potential temperature at some heights above the surface which causes cool air to decrease from the inversion which in turn creates turbulence which has the capability to destroy the inversion.