Chicagoans were greeted by frigid arctic air again Tuesday morning.
Coming days will see quite a temperature inversion develop as incoming
mild Pacific air floods into the area. Thus, the hint of haze captured
in this shot looking southeast at the Metra Tracks in Cary, Illinois and
taken by Anson Mount will become a more obvious feature in the days
ahead--especially as temperatures surge above freezing Thursday and
Friday and melt snow. Temperature inversions--a state of the atmosphere
in which warm air sits atop cold air reducing or eliminating the usual
decline in temperature with height, decreasing or overcoming the usual
vertical mixing of air which occurs when warm, buoyant air is near the
surface and ascends into colder, denser surroundings---often allow the
build-up of haze. As a result, much hazier environment is likely later
this week.
-- Tom Skilling
Photo courtesy of Anson Mount
