What feature is associated with a temperature inversion?

A temperature inversion is characterized by a stable layer of air. In a typical atmospheric structure, as altitude increases, temperature usually decreases; however, during a temperature inversion, a layer of warm air traps cooler air at the surface. This creates a stable environment where vertical motion is suppressed, leading to less mixing of the air layers. Consequently, this stability often results in diminished turbulence and can lead to poor visibility due to trapped pollutants and moisture in the cooler air below.

In contrast, an unstable layer of air is often associated with convective activity, which occurs in the absence of such inversions. Chinook winds, noted for warming as they descend the leeward side of mountains, are not inherently linked to temperature inversions but rather to specific wind patterns and terrain interactions. Increased turbulence typically arises from unstable atmospheric conditions rather than during a temperature inversion, where stability is the key feature.