During a temperature inversion, what typically occurs to the visibility?

During a temperature inversion, visibility typically decreases due to the presence of a layer of warmer air sitting above cooler air near the ground. This situation can trap pollutants, dust, and moisture close to the surface, leading to reduced visibility. Under normal circumstances, inversions can also create conditions that promote fog formation, further impairing visibility.

Inversions are characterized by a stable atmosphere where the normal temperature gradient is inverted. Therefore, rather than increasing visibility, they often create a scenario where particulates accumulate, leading to hazy or obscured viewing conditions. This contributes to the misleading impression that visibility improves during these conditions. Understanding this phenomenon is vital in aviation and meteorology, as it aids pilots in assessing flight safety and planning their operations during such events.