If a temperature inversion is encountered immediately after takeoff, what potential hazard exists?

When a temperature inversion is encountered immediately after takeoff, the primary concern is wind shear. A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface, leading to changes in wind speed and direction with altitude. This can create a situation where the air just above the inversion is moving significantly faster than the air at the surface.

As the aircraft transitions from the cooler, potentially stable air at the surface to the warmer air aloft, it may experience sudden shifts in wind speed and direction, commonly referred to as wind shear. This can pose a serious hazard, particularly during the critical phases of takeoff and ascent, as it can lead to abrupt altitude changes or loss of control if the pilot is not prepared for these unexpected variations in aerodynamic performance.

The other options either refer to conditions that are not directly associated with temperature inversions or are not as immediate of a concern during takeoff. For instance, strong surface winds may not be directly impacted by an inversion layer, while strong convective currents are typically associated with heating from the sun rather than inversions. Clear skies can occur during inversions but do not pose a hazard in the same manner as wind shear does in this context.