What is a temperature inversion?

A temperature inversion refers to a specific atmospheric condition where a layer of warmer air traps cooler air below it, typically close to the Earth's surface. This trapping of cooler air can lead to various weather phenomena such as fog, smog, or poor air quality because the cooler air that is trapped does not mix well with the warmer air above.

The correct understanding of temperature inversion is that it results in stable air conditions that prevent vertical mixing, which leads to the accumulation of pollutants and moisture. This phenomenon creates a layer of stable air, which directly correlates to how air behaves under these conditions.

The other options do not accurately capture the nature of temperature inversions. For instance, a rapid temperature increase does not characterize the phenomenon, nor does it describe the air stability aspect that is fundamental to inversions. A high-altitude weather change may occur separately from temperature inversions and does not explain the horizontal layering of temperature that defines them.