What is one effect of a temperature inversion on smoke during a wildfire?

A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air close to the ground, preventing it from rising. This phenomenon is significant during wildfires because it can restrict the vertical movement of smoke. When smoke is produced by a fire, typically it would rise into the atmosphere, dispersing and dissipating. However, in the presence of a temperature inversion, the cooler air below the inversion layer is denser than the warm air above it, leading to smoke being trapped in the lower atmosphere.

As a result, the smoke accumulates and can significantly reduce air quality and visibility near the ground, creating hazardous conditions for both people and wildlife. This trapping effect can lead to increased smoke concentration in specific areas, which can exacerbate the impacts of the wildfire on the surrounding environment and communities.

The other options do not accurately describe the behavior of smoke during a temperature inversion. Smoke rising rapidly or dissipating quickly contradicts the trapping effect, and while visibility might be reduced due to concentrated smoke, that is a secondary effect of smoke being trapped rather than a direct result of the inversion itself.