The inversion of temperature takes place:
A. on calm and long winter nights.
B. when the earth surface is covered with ice.
C. when the sky is clear and anticyclone condition prevails.
D. when sky is covered with clouds.
Choose the correct option:

Question

The inversion of temperature takes place: 
A. on calm and long winter nights.
B. when the earth surface is covered with ice.
C. when the sky is clear and anticyclone condition prevails.
D. when sky is covered with clouds.
Choose the correct option:

Accepted Answer

Option 1: A, B and C are correct.

**Explanation:**

Option 1 is correct because temperature inversion, a phenomenon where temperature increases with altitude instead of the usual decrease, is favored by the conditions described in A, B, and C. Let's break down why each of these conditions contributes to temperature inversion:

*   **A. on calm and long winter nights:** Calm conditions prevent mixing of air layers. Long winter nights allow for significant radiative cooling of the Earth's surface. The ground loses heat rapidly, cooling the air directly above it. The air higher up retains its heat for longer, leading to a situation where the air near the ground is colder than the air above it – a temperature inversion.

*   **B. when the earth surface is covered with ice:** Ice and snow are highly reflective (high albedo). This means they reflect a large portion of incoming solar radiation back into space, preventing the ground from warming up. Additionally, ice and snow are efficient radiators of heat, leading to rapid cooling of the surface and the air immediately above it. This creates a temperature inversion, with colder air near the surface and warmer air aloft.

*   **C. when the sky is clear and anticyclone condition prevails:** Clear skies allow for maximum radiative heat loss from the Earth's surface at night. Clouds trap heat, preventing the surface from cooling as effectively. Anticyclonic conditions are associated with sinking air, which warms adiabatically (due to compression) as it descends. This sinking, warming air can create a layer of warmer air aloft, further contributing to the temperature inversion. The stable air associated with anticyclones also inhibits vertical mixing, allowing the inversion to persist.

**Why other options are incorrect:**

*   **Option 2: A, B, C and D are correct:** This is incorrect because statement D is incorrect.
*   **Option 3: Only A and B are correct:** This is incorrect because statement C is also correct.
*   **Option 4: A, C and D are correct:** This is incorrect because statement B is also correct, and statement D is incorrect.

**Why statement D is incorrect:**

*   **D. when sky is covered with clouds:** Cloud cover actually *prevents* temperature inversion. Clouds act like a blanket, trapping outgoing longwave radiation (heat) from the Earth's surface. This keeps the surface and the air near it warmer than it would be under clear skies, reducing the temperature difference between the surface and the air aloft, and thus inhibiting the formation of a temperature inversion.