What is the most common cause of a ground/surface-based temperature inversion?

The most common cause of a ground/surface-based temperature inversion is terrestrial radiation on a clear, relatively still night. During such nights, the ground loses heat rapidly through radiation, cooling the surface and creating a temperature gradient where the air near the surface becomes cooler than the air above it. This situation can lead to the formation of an inversion layer, where warmer air traps cooler air below, which significantly affects weather and atmospheric conditions.

Inversions are crucial in aviation as they can lead to reduced visibility and the potential for fog formation, affecting both ground operations and flying conditions. Understanding this phenomenon helps pilots anticipate changes in weather and visibility associated with these conditions.

The other options involve scenarios that either do not directly contribute to the formation of surface inversions or apply under different circumstances that do not typically result in ground inversions. For instance, cloud cover can act to trap heat rather than allowing for the cooling effect needed to establish an inversion. Wind patterns and high-pressure systems can also influence temperature and stability in the atmosphere but are not the primary drivers of surface-based inversions during calm nighttime conditions.