TROPOSPHERIC CONVECTION

Tropospheric convection is a key process by which the atmosphere transports water and energy and in the process clouds are created. Clouds and water vapour are very important in bringing rain locally and to global climate. Both have a distinct effect on the net energy absorbed and emitted by the planet. As do greenhouse gases. The amount of net absorbed energy creates our climate.

ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION LAYERS

An inversion:

• is a layer of very stable air where temperature increases with an increase in altitude.
• acts like a cap or lid to severely limit the upward movement of air.
• often exist at many levels of the troposphere.

This layer of stable air suppresses or resists vertical movement of air.

The surface temperature on our planet ought to be on average approximately 15 degrees Celsius.

A higher content of atmospheric greenhouse gases results in an increased absorption and reabsorbing cycle.  

Greenhouse Gases

read more…

Gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide do what the roof of a greenhouse does. Trapping solar heat  that is responsible for our weather as we know it.

 read more…

Inversion layers are blankets of air trapping various sorts of air pollutants. Natural ventilation by the convection mechanism is not possible.

Urban Heat Island

read more…

Brown Cloud

read more…

Fig. 1

A very simplified display of Earth’s Greenhouse effect becoming too strong.  

More greenhouses gases results more absorbed heat in the atmosphere.

Increasing Temperature

Increasing Height

ATMOSPHERIC INVERSION LAYERS

Inversion layers block the upward movement of air, trapping

heat, moisture and pollutants.