Imagine you're standing in the autumn fog, in a gray soup so thick that the world around you seems to disappear. But don't worry, you don't have to flee south immediately - because above you, hidden behind this thick layer of fog, bright sunshine awaits! The phenomenon that creates this contrast is called an inversion weather situation.
Inversion basically means a reversal of the normal air stratification. Normally, the higher you go, the colder it gets. But with an inversion weather situation, things are different: the cold, moist air is trapped like a lid at the bottom of the valley, while the warm, dry layer of air sits above it. The result? While the fog soup is stuck in the valley and shrouds the landscape in a cloudy grey, at higher altitudes it is usually cloudless and wonderfully sunny - or, as in our Pure Moments picture, wrapped in bright sunset colors.
This phenomenon is particularly common in fall and winter, when the nights are long and cool. The cold sinks into the valleys and is often “trapped” there by a high-pressure weather system. In the morning, people down in the fog often hope in vain that the sun might dispel it - but the inversion remains persistent.
A real insider tip is to simply escape to the mountains in such weather conditions! Even a short trip to higher altitudes, for example on a hike or a short mountain tour, will bring you into the sunshine and ensure a good mood and wonderful views of the blanket of fog below you. From there, the foggy layer looks almost like a soft, white cushion lying over the valleys.
So, next foggy morning, maybe it's time to get out of the sea of fog and into the sunshine! The inversion weather situation gives you a wonderful opportunity to experience autumn from its sunniest side - if you are prepared to simply change your perspective.
