Atmosphere concept
Thermal Inversion
A layer in which temperature rises with altitude rather than falling, created when high-altitude absorbers soak up starlight — the exoplanet analogue of Earth's ozone stratosphere. On the hottest giant planets, absorbers such as titanium oxide or metals can drive inversions, which flip molecular features in an emission spectrum from absorption to emission.
Highlights
- ›Temperature rising with altitude — flips emission features
Methods, worlds & facilities
Across exoplanet science
Knowledge connections
- Associated withEmission Spectroscopy
- Associated withEmission Spectroscopy
- Associated withHot Jupiter
- Associated withLava World
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.