What does meteorological inversion indicate about temperature distribution?

Meteorological inversion indicates a situation where the normal temperature gradient in the atmosphere is reversed. Typically, temperature decreases with increasing elevation due to the decreasing pressure and density, which allows air to cool as it rises. However, during an inversion, warmer air traps cooler air at the surface, causing the temperature to become cooler at lower elevations compared to higher ones. This results in layers where the surface temperature is indeed cooler than that at higher elevations where the inversion occurs.

Inversions are important because they can affect air quality and weather conditions, often trapping pollutants close to the ground. Understanding this concept is crucial for interpreting meteorological phenomena and addressing environmental concerns related to temperature distributions in the atmosphere.