The ISU Soil Moisture Network has added three inversion stations to the network this spring. These stations are intended to monitor for low level temperature inversions that are impactful to activities like agricultural crop spraying. The station measures air temperature at a 1.5, 5 and 10 foot height above ground level. When the temperature increases with height, an inversion is likely present. The featured chart presents the minute by minute temperature difference between the 10 and 1.5 foot level since the first of May for the site near Ames. Areas in red would indicate an inversion is likely present. So what does the plot inform us? Inversions are typically limited to night time and dusk/dawn hours. Most any amount of solar heating leads to a warming ground surface and near surface air temperatures respond more quickly then a higher level. Look for more features and upcoming announcements regarding data from these new stations.

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Tags:   inversion