Which of the following statements with reference to Surface inversion of temperature is/are correct ? 1. It causes instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere. 2. This inversion commonly lasts for a few hours until the Sun comes up. Select the answer using the code given below :

Surface temperature inversion, also known as radiation inversion, occurs when the ground cools rapidly via longwave radiation, cooling the air in contact with it more than the air above [2]. This phenomenon promotes stability in the lower layers of the atmosphere because the cooler, denser air remains at the surface, inhibiting vertical mixing and mass/heat fluxes [3]. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect as it causes stability, not instability. These inversions are typically of short duration and are very common on long winter nights with clear skies [2]. They are usually destroyed within a few hours after sunrise as the ground heats up and convective boundary layers grow, making statement 2 correct [1]. In higher latitudes, they may persist longer, but in lower and middle latitudes, they are easily dissipated during the daytime [1].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 22: Vertical Distribution of Temperature > Ground Inversion (Surface Temperature Inversion) > p. 301
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > INVERSION OF TEMPERATURE > p. 73
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 22: Vertical Distribution of Temperature > 22.4. Temperature Inversion > p. 300