Impressive Upper-Air Sounding From Earlier This Morning In Reno, Nevada! (credit: NWS Reno, Nevada)

DISCUSSION: As of this morning, forecasters working at the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada found quite an impressive feature within this morning's weather balloon launch. As noted in the upper-air sounding captured by this morning's weather balloon launch, you can see how at 5,000 feet above the surface there was a measured temperature of 19°F ; while at 8,000 feet above the surface there was a temperature of 42°F. This change in temperature with height in this particular upper-air sounding indicated the presence of a low-level inversion as of this morning in this part of the country. Thus, at the time of the balloon launch (3am), temperatures were as much as 23° warmer at about 8,000' than that measured at 5,000'.

As noted in the actual post listed on the NWS Reno, Nevada Facebook page: "These inversions can create a shallow and stable layer near the surface which can result in light winds and cold temperatures which can trap pollutants down in the valleys. Did those airplanes sound louder to you this morning as they were taking off from the airport? Strong inversions can also allow sound to become trapped in the inversion layer allowing it to propagate farther and to sound louder." Hence, low-level inversions anywhere in the world can have notable implications on day-to-day life anywhere in the world at any time.

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©2016 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz