Term: ground level inversion https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02703 Definition: The inversion of the normal temperature gradient in the atmosphere; the temperature of the air increases with increasing height of the air above the ground. This leads to poor mixing of gases released below the inversion. Related Terms: 1) inversion (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03146). 2) gradient (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02669). Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2193 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167) Citation: 'ground level inversion' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.G02703 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.