What phenomenon can worsen air quality due to a lack of air circulation?

A temperature inversion is a phenomenon that can significantly exacerbate air quality issues, primarily due to its impact on air circulation. In a typical scenario, warm air rises, allowing pollutants to disperse. However, during a temperature inversion, a layer of warmer air traps cooler air at the surface. This trapping effect hinders the vertical mixing of air and prevents pollutants, such as smog and particulate matter, from rising and dispersing into the atmosphere. As a result, pollutants accumulate in the stagnant air near the ground, leading to worsening air quality.

In contrast, both heat waves and cold fronts can influence weather conditions but do not inherently create the same stagnant air conditions that characterize a temperature inversion. Windstorms are generally associated with strong winds that enhance air circulation and promote the dispersal of pollutants, thus improving air quality rather than worsening it. Therefore, temperature inversions are particularly notorious for their ability to lead to air quality deterioration by preventing the usual dispersion of airborne contaminants.