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Earths atmosphere has six different layers. There are a few other atmospheric layers as well -- you can take a look at a diagram of these below. Moreover, it regulates the temperature extremes that are likely to occur between day and night. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. 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. This is due to gravity, but mostly due to the temperature inversion in the tropopause that prevents gases from entering the layer. As the altitude increases, the atmosphere diminishes which is the reason why the air pressure in the exosphere is shallow. Earth's atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. 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. The atmosphere comprises five layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. . The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the . Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere . Stratosphere. Planes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence and fly longer distances using less fuel. Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own specific traits. In fact, the ozone layer absorbs most of the UV radiation the sun sends to us. This allows the stratosphere to have an increasing temperature with altitude. Acid rains form when nitrogen oxide or Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor in the atmosphere. measured by the humidity of the air. The stratosphere is a region of intense interactions among radiative, dynamical, and chemical processes, in which the horizontal mixing of gaseous components proceeds much more rapidly than does vertical mixing. 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. They are much similar to warm breath during cold weather. 3 It borders the stratosphere below through a thin transitional space called the stratopause. Sydney Chapman gave a correct description of the source of stratospheric ozone and its ability to generate heat within the stratosphere;[citation needed] he also wrote that ozone may be destroyed by reacting with atomic oxygen, making two molecules of molecular oxygen. Moving upward from ground level, these layers are called the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. [5] Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change, reaching particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter). There is very little water vapor in this layer of the atmosphere, so clouds are a rare occurrence. The air has a very low density that you get into the interplanetary space without a manifest limit. Rocket launches inject exhaust gases into the stratosphere, producing uncertain consequences. "Strat" means layer. Three Highest Thrill Rides in the World. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, laying just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. It is called stratosphere because it is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence. She earned her bachelor's in Physics and Astronomy from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Why Is Carbon Important? Commercial passenger jets fly in the lower stratosphere, partly because this less-turbulent layer provides a smoother ride. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. As altitude increases, air density in the layers of the atmosphere decrease. Planes that are low on fuel also fly at this altitude because they can cover more distance than in the troposphere while using less fuel and encountering less turbulence. Composed of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, the stratosphere also contains the ozone layer. Although humans would not be able to survive in the stratosphere due to thin air and frigid temperatures, there is life that can and does survive there. As previously mentioned, the stratosphere is one of the five layers that make up the Earth's atmosphere. While the troposphere is filled with a vast assortment of clouds thanks to a gas we know as water vapor, the stratosphere is a vast, clear blue sky. Mesosphere lies between 50-85 km above sea level. It lies above the troposphere, the layer closest to Earth, and below the mesosphere. This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. These elements react with toxic gases, salt, smoke, and volcanic ash. The stratosphere is actually crucial to allowing us to live on earth, because within the stratosphere you will find the ozone layer. Ozone in turn is photolysed much more rapidly than molecular oxygen as it has a stronger absorption that occurs at longer wavelengths, where the solar emission is more intense. The increase of temperature with altitude is a result of the absorption of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the ozone layer. (The ozone layer is too large a topic for this article, but you can read more about it in the following post.). It occurs naturally in small (trace) amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). 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. Bacterial life survives in the stratosphere, making it a part of the biosphere. Other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and neon occupy the remaining portion. The more humid the atmosphere is, the thicker the contrails will be. While common in the troposphere, very little convection takes place in the stratosphere. 77 Exciting Facts about the Atmosphere - LovePsychologys The top of the stratosphere is called the stratopause, above which the temperature decreases with height. Though the atmosphere may appear uniform to the naked eye, it is actually similar to a layer cake. Many satellites actually orbit Earth within the thermosphere! All Rights Reserved. However, the distance of 100 kms from the earths surface is what is considered generally as an imaginary boundary. The air in the stratosphere is about 1000 thinner than the air at sea level in the troposphere. The definition of the stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, extending from about 6 miles to 30 miles, or 10km to 50km, above the Earth's surface. The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere, which absorb the majority of harmful UV radiation from the sun. Since the ozone layer absorbs UV rays from the sun, it heats up, which allows temperatures to increase as altitude increases. 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. As a result, it tends to trap any and all gases that enter this region of the atmosphere. We are not permitting internet traffic to Byjus website from countries within European Union at this time. It sets it apart from the other atmospheric layers by temperature rising instead of dropping as altitude increases, a process called temperature inversion. Between the troposphere and stratosphere is the tropopause border that demarcates the beginning of the temperature inversion. Also, magnetic and south poles reverse at uneven intervals of hundreds of thousands of years. It is also roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) thick. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The atmosphere gradually changes as the climate and weather change. It is the only layer of the atmosphere where temperature inversion occurs. It acts as a giant sponge and absorbs the vast majority of the sun's dangerous Ultraviolet Light. The stratosphere is a layer of Earths atmosphere. They shoot upwards through the stratosphere in a blue column to altitudes as high as 50km! The stratosphere is abundant in ozone, a type of oxygen molecule that absorbs the sun's ultraviolet radiation and uses it to heat this layer in the atmosphere. This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified. In 1985, they observed a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic. Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are the exception. Stratosphere is the second layer. The coldest temperatures in Earths atmosphere, about -90 C (-130 F), are found near the top of this layer. These events often precede unusual winter weather [16] and may even be responsible for the cold European winters of the 1960s.[17]. The stratosphere also traps certain gasses known as CFC's, which are chemicals derived from aerosol. Facts About The Exosphere: The Outermost Layer Of The Atmosphere. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Also known as Nacreous Clouds, these unique clouds develop near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers (9 - 15 miles) during the winter months. It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. It borders the troposphere below through a thin transitional space called the tropopause. The water ice appears younger than we would expect. Unlike the troposphere, it contains little water vapor so there are no clouds in this layer of the atmosphere. Stratosphere is the second layer. It changes sometimes unpredictably Instead, clouds condense in the troposphere. Air pollution causes the demolition of the ozone belt, and without it, the earth would be exposed to the deadly ultraviolet rays in the sun. The jet stream flows near the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful radiation emitted from the Sun. The exosphere is really, really big. [7] Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV-C region, at wavelengths shorter than about 240nm. Earths atmosphere is similar to a jacket for our planet. A.A. Scaife, J.R. Knight, G.K. Vallis, C.K. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. That's much thicker than the inner layers of the atmosphere, but not nearly as thick as the exosphere. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. Autumn Skies Online Pty Ltd is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Stratosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids The exosphere is the very edge of our atmosphere. Because of this, jet aircraft and weather balloons reach their maximum operational altitudes within the stratosphere. This creates a smoother ride for passengers, as there are few clouds or weather in the stratosphere. They are far much apart from that they can move thousands of kilometers without colliding. [21] Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) sometimes migrate over Mount Everest, whose summit is 8,848m (29,029ft). Without the stratosphere, life on Earth would be very different or non-existent, as the shielding of the sun's radiation is important for known Earth life. The stratosphere also contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation as it enters our atmosphere from the sun. Discover fun facts about the stratosphere and stratosphere characteristics. This ozone layer is important for man's survival, and for the survival of life on earth, as it absorbs the UV radiation from the sun that would otherwise be deadly. A Division ofAutumn Skies Online (Pty) Ltd Disclaimer The resultant breaking causes large-scale mixing of air and other trace gases throughout the midlatitude surf zone. This includes the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and stratosphere.