Temperature inversions in France – Part B: Spatial variations

Our database comprises daily minimum and maximum temperatures observed over 10 years at 859 pairs of meteorological stations throughout France. Each pairing associates a low high station. The influence six predictors on the intensity, frequency, duration temperature inversions is measured by linear regressions. Five are drawn from 250 m-resolution DTM: elevation, depth valley where located, magnitude positive relief (ridge, hills), gradient slope hill or mountainside, altitudinal amplitude between sixth descriptor used distance to nearest sea. Topography exerts major formation thermal inversions. Three descriptors account for more than 80% variance inversion characters: sea, depth, amplitude. Elevation explains only 24% that variance. spatial distribution three characteristics highlights several categorizations fit into nested scales. sites can be arranged classes relating mountains, coastal areas, plateaus. However, their area under consideration unclear fails indicate sharply delimited groupings.