"Strat" means layer. This material is based upon work supported by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a major facility sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. [7] Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV-C region, at wavelengths shorter than about 240nm. It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. 10. Convection is when gases cool as they rise, allowing them to condense on air molecules which form clouds. In this article, we are going to learn about the atmosphere. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. It is important because it contains the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful UV rays. 8. Clouds rarely form in the stratosphere for this reason as well, as the air is very dry. Despite Mercury's weak magnetic field, it behaves similarly to Earth's. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. 2 It extends from a height of approximately 65 km (40 miles) to 85 km (53 miles) above the Earth's surface. Troposphere is the thinnest and closest layer to the earths surface. PSCs appear in the lower stratosphere near the poles in winter. Stratospheric warming of the polar vortex results in its weakening. [6] Winds in the stratosphere can far exceed those in the troposphere, reaching near 60m/s (220km/h; 130mph) in the Southern polar vortex. Large volcanic eruptions and major meteorite impacts can fling aerosol particles up into the stratosphere where they may linger for months or years, sometimes altering Earth's global climate. The water exists in the form of vapor and invisible to plain eyes. It has increased the number of respiratory conditions such as asthma. Earth's Atmospheric Layers | NASA However, as you enter the stratosphere, the ozone gas absorbs the ultraviolet light entering the atmosphere from the sun. Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. 2. The stratosphere accounts for approximately 24% of the earth's total atmosphere. 1. The stratosphere extends from from 4 -12 miles (6-20 km) above the Earth's surface to around 31 miles (50 km). It means temperatures rise as altitude increases in this region, unlike the other four layers, which are characterized by a drop in temperature as altitude increases. The temperatures at the different atmospheric layers differ depending on solar radiation, humidity, and altitude. Within the stratosphere temperatures increase with altitude (see temperature inversion); the top of the stratosphere has a temperature of about 270 K (3C or 26.6F).[8]. The rising air is literally freeze dried; the stratosphere is a very dry place. However, it is made up out of five different layers: The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. It's about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. However, temperature increases with altitude in the stratosphere, which is opposite from the troposphere. It is the only layer of the atmosphere where temperature inversion occurs. It is easy & understandable to view our atmosphere as a continuous layer of air. There are no storms or turbulence here to mix up the air, so cold, heavy air is at the bottom and warm, light air is at the top. The Stratosphere also has three thrill rides at the top. That's almost as wide as Earth itself. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The Earth's atmosphere is very important, as each layer plays a role for life on Earth. The biosphere extends from the deepest root systems of trees, to the dark environments of ocean trenches, to lush rain forests, high mountaintops, and transition zones like this one, where ocean and terrestrial ecosystems meet. stratosphere, layer of Earth's atmosphere lying between the troposphere and the mesosphere. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, laying just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Earth is a great planet to live on because it has a wonderful atmosphere around it. Temperatures in the upper thermosphere can range from about 500 C (932 F) to 2,000 C (3,632 F) or higher. These events often precede unusual winter weather [16] and may even be responsible for the cold European winters of the 1960s.[17]. The air has a very low density that you get into the interplanetary space without a manifest limit. At the outer limit of the magnetic field is the magnetosphere. A two-step reactive mechanism produces ozone in the stratosphere naturally. An interesting feature of stratospheric circulation is the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in the tropical latitudes, which is driven by gravity waves that are convectively generated in the troposphere. Also, magnetic and south poles reverse at uneven intervals of hundreds of thousands of years. Mercury has water ice and organics. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. Commercial passenger jets fly in the lower stratosphere, partly because this less-turbulent layer provides a smoother ride. If you look up at the sky, either on a clear day or a starry night, it probably wouldn't occur to you that you are looking through layers. Since the stratosphere has increasing temperature with elevation, convection is very rare. The mesosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. Air circulation within the stratosphere is dominated by the Brewer-Dobson Circulation, which is a single-celled air movement that stretches from the Poles to the Equator. The air in the stratosphere is about 1000 thinner than the air at sea level in the troposphere. But its not the same everywhere. Ozone layer | Description, Importance, & Facts | Britannica High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun are absorbed in the thermosphere, raising its temperature to hundreds or at times thousands of degrees. Bacterial life survives in the stratosphere, making it a part of the biosphere. Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases. All Rights Reserved. The next layer up is called the stratosphere. The QBO induces a secondary circulation that is important for the global stratospheric transport of tracers, such as ozone[14] or water vapor. Although on average the stratosphere begins at about 7 miles up from the earth's surface, it can range from 5 miles at the earth's poles, to 6-8 miles at moderate latitudes, to 11 miles at the equator. Stratospheric circulation is a predominantly wave-driven circulation in that the tropical upwelling is induced by the wave force by the westward propagating Rossby waves, in a phenomenon called Rossby-wave pumping. Stratosphere - The Stratosphere makes up around 25% of the total of Earth's atmosphere, and is home to more than 90% of our Earth's O-Zone layer. Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas whose molecules are comprised of three oxygen atoms. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. As previously mentioned, the stratosphere is one of the five layers that make up the Earth's atmosphere. The stratosphere (/strtsfr, -to-/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. - Structure, Solubility & Products, Arrow Pushing Mechanism in Organic Chemistry, Topicity in Stereochemistry: Relationships & Examples, Antarafacial & Suprafacial Relationships in Organic Chemistry, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. On November 29, 1973, a Rppell's vulture (Gyps rueppelli) was ingested into a jet engine 11,278m (37,000ft) above the Ivory Coast. The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. Terms & Conditions This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified. The stratosphere is home to the ozone layer, which is a thin layer of concentrated ozone which plays an essential role in protecting the Earth from dangerous solar radiation. As mentioned in the introduction, certain birds such as cranes, swans, and vultures can fly at this altitude. The stratosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The atmosphere is a layer of gases retained by gravity on the earth. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, which is composed of a total of five layers. The chlorine atoms are recycled when ClO reacts with O in the upper stratosphere, or when ClO reacts with itself in the chemistry of the Antarctic ozone hole. The stratosphere is situated just above the troposphere, with a thin layer of air called the tropopause separating the two layers. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. [19] In 2001, dust was collected at a height of 41 kilometres in a high-altitude balloon experiment and was found to contain bacterial material when examined later in the laboratory. The water ice appears younger than we would expect. 6. 27. Due to the lack of vertical convection in the stratosphere, materials that get into the stratosphere can stay there for long times. Create your account. Stratosphere Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. This vertical stratification, with warmer layers above and cooler layers below, makes the stratosphere dynamically stable: there is no regular convection and associated turbulence in this part of the atmosphere. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. The stratosphere protects Earth life from extremely harmful UV rays from the sun. Like an onion, the Earth's atmosphere is composed of many layers. Because of this, the top of the thermosphere can be found anywhere between 500 and 1,000 km (311 to 621 miles) above the ground. The thermosphere is home to the International Space Station as it orbits Earth. The importance of the stratosphere is highlighted by the presence of the ozone layer, without which no life on Earth will be possible. Due to the high speed of the meteor, it generates a lot of heat resulting from high friction between the particles and the meteor. They are a combination of supercooled water and nitric acid that develop at very low temperatures. Since the ozone layer absorbs UV rays from the sun, it heats up, which allows temperatures to increase as altitude increases. These gases are chemically inert, although some can react with various chemicals: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, ammonia, ozone, and water vapor. Thats the opposite of how the layers work in the troposphere, where we live. There are five layers of the Earth's atmosphere. We live in the troposphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere closest to earth. stratosphere: [noun] the part of the earth's atmosphere which extends from the top of the troposphere to about 30 miles (50 kilometers) above the surface and in which temperature increases gradually to about 32 F (0 C) and clouds rarely form. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. One of the most surprising things about the stratosphere is not its characteristics but about what you find in this layer. 9. It is the only atmospheric layer where temperature inversion takes place. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_3',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_4',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2-0_1');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_5',116,'0','2'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2-0_2');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2','ezslot_6',116,'0','3'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ownyourweather_com-large-billboard-2-0_3'); .large-billboard-2-multi-116{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:3px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:3px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;min-width:300px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}Recent Posts, Copyright 2023 by Own Your Weather. It comprises the magnetosphere and ionosphere. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. Atmosphere | NASA Climate Kids This decrease in temperature with altitude is what causes convection to occur in the troposphere. Facts About Stratosphere - GKToday OH is formed by the reaction of electrically excited oxygen atoms produced by ozone photolysis, with water vapor. During northern hemispheric winters, sudden stratospheric warmings, caused by the absorption of Rossby waves in the stratosphere, can be observed in approximately half of winters when easterly winds develop in the stratosphere. Overall, the attenuation of solar UV at wavelengths that damage DNA by the ozone layer allows life to exist on the surface of the planet outside of the ocean. There are no storms or turbulence here to mix up the air, so cold, heavy air is at the bottom and warm, light air is at the top. Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. Close to the tropopause, temperatures start at approximately -51 Celsius (-60 Fahrenheit) and continue to rise until reaching the stratopause, where temperatures reach -15 Celsius (5 Fahrenheit).
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