What conditions are most favorable for the formation of a surface-based temperature inversion?

The conditions most favorable for the formation of a surface-based temperature inversion occur during clear, cool nights with calm or light winds. During such nights, the ground loses heat rapidly through radiation, cooling the air near the surface more than the air aloft. This creates a situation where the temperature increases with altitude, leading to a temperature inversion.

Calm or light wind conditions further enhance this effect because strong winds tend to mix the air, which disrupts the layering effect that leads to an inversion. In clear skies, heat escapes from the surface more efficiently since there are no clouds to reflect the outgoing thermal radiation. As a result, the colder air remains trapped close to the ground while warmer air sits above, solidifying the temperature inversion.

In contrast, overcast nights or days with high winds would prevent the effective cooling of the surface and lead to more uniform temperature distribution rather than layering. Cloudy conditions and heavy rainfall also tend to keep the air temperature more consistent, eliminating the sharp temperature gradients necessary for inversions to form.