based on the layers in the diagram, which of the following best explains why a thermal inversion tends to concentrate pollutants in the air layer closest to the earth’s surface?
Based on the layers in the diagram, which of the following best explains why a thermal inversion tends to concentrate pollutants in the air layer closest to the earth’s surface?
Answer:
In a thermal inversion, the normal atmospheric conditions are inverted, causing the air to become warmer with altitude instead of cooler. This inversion traps cooler air near the Earth’s surface under a layer of warmer air. The layer of warmer air acts as a lid, preventing the vertical mixing of air masses. As a result, pollutants emitted at ground level become trapped beneath this inversion layer and cannot disperse effectively into the upper atmosphere. Therefore, thermal inversion tends to concentrate pollutants in the air layer closest to the Earth’s surface by creating a stagnant layer that hinders the dispersion of pollutants.