On cold, dry winter nights, why is it common to experience below-freezing temperatures near the ground, and air more than 10°F warmer at your waist?
A strong radiation inversion occurs when the air near the ground is much colder than the air higher up. Ideal conditions for a strong inversion and, hence, very low nighttime temperatures exist when the air is calm, the night is long, and the air is fairly dry and cloud-free. The ground is able to radiate its energy to outer space and thereby cool rapidly. With cloudy weather and moist air, much of the outgoing infrared energy is absorbed and radiated back to the surface, regarding the rate of cooling. Also, on humid nights, condensation in the form of fog or dew will release latent heat, which warms the air. So, radiation inversion can occur on any night. But during long winter nights, when the air is still, cloud-free, and relatively dry, these inversions can occur on any night, then, it is common to experience below-freezing temperatures near the ground, and air more than 10°F warmer at your waist.
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