mixed-layer inversion

A mixed-layer inversion, also known as a daytime boundary layer, occurs in the troposphere where air temperature increases with height instead of the usual decrease. This phenomenon is a result of surface heating by the sun, which creates convective turbulence. As warm air rises, it cools, but if the environmental lapse rate above the boundary layer is such that the rising air cools faster than the surrounding air, the upward movement of turbulent bubbles is limited.12

This inversion acts as a cap, preventing pollutants, dust, and smoke from dispersing vertically. Consequently, air quality can be significantly reduced, and fog may form near the surface where the air is cooler. These inversions are common on clear, sunny days over land and can influence cloud formation and precipitation.132