<p>Less dense air tends to rise; in general, how much the atmosphere cools with elevation (in addition to humidity differences) drives a difference in density, and if that difference is larger than the stable condition, air masses tend to move up.  Thus afternoon thunderstorms, for example.</p>
<p>An inversion is the opposite.  When the air higher up is warmer, it's also less dense, so the air lower down doesn't move up - the atmosphere is &quot;extra stable&quot;.  Since the air isn't moving up, air pollution isn't carried up and out by advection, and therefore accumulates as diffusion is much slower.  The same mechanism that carries moisture up to create afternoon thunderstorms isn't able to move pollution out.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-11-01T17:29:51.053Z
2022-11-01T17:29:51.053Z
damp_civil
<p>I do not understand why the fact that warm air is above cold air causes a lid like effect and traps pollutants below? What is it about that order? Why does warm air below cold air not restrict any pollutants from rising and dispersing in the atmosphere?</p>
<p>I am not asking what causes them, but why they have the effect that they do.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-18T00:45:50.117Z
Some background reading, may or may not offer info that helps: [Why are inversion layers so important in meteorology?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/9302/why-are-inversion-layers-so-important-in-meteorology)... [What is a temperature inversion and can it trap smog/pollution?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/5123/what-is-a-temperature-inversion-and-can-it-trap-smog-pollution)..
JeopardyTempest
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-10-18T00:46:46.470Z
[Temperature Inversion](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/22713/temperature-inversion/22716)... [What is a temperature inversion and can it trap smog/pollution?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/5123/what-is-a-temperature-inversion-and-can-it-trap-smog-pollution/5128#5128).  Think some may help some, but you'll have to let us know if none make it clear
JeopardyTempest
<temperature><air-pollution><inversion>
Why does a temperature inversion act like a lid?
Name
# Why does a temperature inversion act like a lid?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-10-16)

I do not understand why the fact that warm air is above cold air causes a lid like effect and traps pollutants below? What is it about that order? Why does warm air below cold air not restrict any pollutants from rising and dispersing in the atmosphere?

I am not asking what causes them, but why they have the effect that they do.

**Tags:** temperature, air-pollution, inversion

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Some background reading, may or may not offer info that helps: [Why are inversion layers so important in meteorology?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/9302/why-are-inversion-layers-so-important-in-meteorology)... [What is a temperature inversion and can it trap smog/pollution?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/5123/what-is-a-temperature-inversion-and-can-it-trap-smog-pollution)..  
> **username_1**: [Temperature Inversion](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/22713/temperature-inversion/22716)... [What is a temperature inversion and can it trap smog/pollution?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/5123/what-is-a-temperature-inversion-and-can-it-trap-smog-pollution/5128#5128).  Think some may help some, but you'll have to let us know if none make it clear  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-11-01. Score: 1

Less dense air tends to rise; in general, how much the atmosphere cools with elevation (in addition to humidity differences) drives a difference in density, and if that difference is larger than the stable condition, air masses tend to move up. Thus afternoon thunderstorms, for example.

An inversion is the opposite. When the air higher up is warmer, it's also less dense, so the air lower down doesn't move up - the atmosphere is "extra stable". Since the air isn't moving up, air pollution isn't carried up and out by advection, and therefore accumulates as diffusion is much slower. The same mechanism that carries moisture up to create afternoon thunderstorms isn't able to move pollution out.


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