How Do Temperature Inversions Affect Air Quality?
Temperature inversions are relatively common in the Puget Sound area, and refer to reversals of normal temperature patterns seen in our lower atmosphere. In wintertime, a temperature inversion occurs when cold air close to the ground is trapped by a layer of warmer air. As the inversion continues, air becomes stagnant and pollution becomes trapped close to the ground. Since our area lies in a basin, it takes an extra push of marine air to flush the pollution out of our area. Inversions also occur during the summer months, but are a product of even hotter upper air trapping warm air close to the ground. The result is the same: we are unable to rid ourselves of the everyday pollution that we create. Air pollution will continue to accumulate until the weather pattern changes. Just how much air quality degrades depends on our everyday, pollution-causing actions, such as driving, using gasoline-powered yard and recreational equipment, or burning wood. Voluntarily refraining from, or limitin
