Structural behaviour of inversions in the lowest 810 feet during their development and decay in winter at Winnipeg

Abstract

This study investigates the structural behaviour of winter inversions lasting not less than 10 hours in the lowest 810 feet at Winnipeg. Attention focuses on the development and decay processes in relation to synoptic meteorological conditions. The temporal range of inversion development and decay is examined. Inversion cases representative of Bell's (1974) classification scheme are identified and analyzed. The synoptic situation associated with each case study is determined and an attempt is then made to evaluate the structural behaviour in terms of weather processes. The results are interpretated with a view of providing an insight into their revelance to air pollution potential studies... This study uses temperature and wind. data observed on the C.B.C. television tower at Starbuck, Manitoba, hourly synoptic observational data from Winnipeg International Airport and daily weather maps... This study indicates that intense radiative inversions conducive to the highest air pollution potential hazard occur when the weather scene is influenced by an anticyclonic circulation of clear, cold Arctic air.