Lon33
Pre-takeoff checklist
Help me remember (or learn) what the significance is of the temperature at the top of an inversion level.
For example, the Area Forecast Discussion for KLAX said that at 1714Z this morning, "there was a surface based inversion with a top near near 1400 ft with a temp of 31 C." The KLAX field level is 128 MSL, and the temperature at field level at that time was 26 C, i.e., less than the top of the inversion.
So, does the 31 C at the top of the inversion mean that the temperature increased from field level to 1400 MSL, but began to decrease above 1400 MSL? Or does it mean that there was a layer of even warmer air above 1400 MSL?
For example, the Area Forecast Discussion for KLAX said that at 1714Z this morning, "there was a surface based inversion with a top near near 1400 ft with a temp of 31 C." The KLAX field level is 128 MSL, and the temperature at field level at that time was 26 C, i.e., less than the top of the inversion.
So, does the 31 C at the top of the inversion mean that the temperature increased from field level to 1400 MSL, but began to decrease above 1400 MSL? Or does it mean that there was a layer of even warmer air above 1400 MSL?