Acid rains form when nitrogen oxide or Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor in the atmosphere. Certain birds can fly to this altitude, including cranes, swans, and vultures. Most airplanes or jets travel in the lower part of the stratosphere. They are much similar to warm breath during cold weather. However, this feature allows commercial airliners to fly in the lower stratosphere while traveling faster and save fuel. 110 lessons. The word 'stratosphere' is derived from the word 'strato' meaning layer, and 'sphere' which is earth's shape. Radicals produced from the homolytically split oxygen molecules combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone. The stratosphere extends from the tropopause at about 10 to 17 km (about 6 to 11 miles) altitude to its upper boundary (the stratopause) at . 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 atmosphere is one of four spheres of the earth, which include the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere. Brewer-Dobson Circulation occurs in the stratosphere. Stratosphere is the second layer. The mesosphere is directly above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. Earths atmosphere has six different layers. Once you leave the stratosphere, and enter the mesosphere, the temperature dramatically decreases until plummeting to around -184 degrees Fahrenheit. Atmosphere Layers: Facts About the Atmosphere Layers Most clouds appear here, mainly because 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. Many satellites actually orbit Earth within the thermosphere! A.A. Scaife, J.R. Knight, G.K. Vallis, C.K. In comparison, the warmest in the thermosphere. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. Acidic rains destroy plants and animals, and if it reaches rivers and lakes, it destroys all the aquatic life. Little-Known Scientific Facts About the Stratosphere Ionization takes place in the ionosphere caused by the suns radiation. As it absorbs the UV light, it absorbs energy. Blue jets are an extremely rare form of lightning or electrical discharge from clouds in the troposphere. 10 Things to Know About the Ionosphere - NASA Solar System Exploration 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. This decrease in temperature with altitude is what causes convection to occur in the troposphere. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The stratosphere the atmosphere's second layer, and is located right above the troposphere and right below the mesosphere. In the 1900s, Hungarian physicist Theodore von Krmn determined the boundary to be around 50 miles up, or roughly 80 kilometers above sea level. It has different layers with different qualities. The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. This breaking is caused due to a highly non-linear interaction between the vertically propagating planetary waves and the isolated high potential vorticity region known as the polar vortex. Certain swans, cranes, and vultures can fly in the lower stratosphere. The burning of fossil fuels discharges carbon dioxide, while agricultural developments deposit a lot of methane and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. It surrounds the globe and protects it by absorbing the infrared rays from the sun. 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. 3. PSCs appear in the lower stratosphere near the poles in winter. [7] Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV-C region, at wavelengths shorter than about 240nm. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead, the ionosphere is a series of regions in parts of the mesosphere and thermosphere where high-energy radiation from the Sun has knocked electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. 27. The temperatures in the ozone belt are higher than in the troposphere since the ozone absorbs the ultraviolet rays. The stratosphere is a very interesting layer in Earth's atmosphere, as there are many fun stratosphere facts outside of its primary characteristics that make it unique. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. The Earth's atmosphere is very important, as each layer plays a role for life on Earth. It sets it apart from the other atmospheric layers by temperature rising instead of dropping as altitude increases, a process called temperature inversion. Unlike the troposphere, it contains little water vapor so there are no clouds in this layer of the atmosphere. Ozone, an unusual type of oxygen molecule that is relatively abundant in the stratosphere, heats this layer as it absorbs energy from incoming ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. It has a very important job: to protect us from harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation. The Stratosphere also has three thrill rides at the top. The coldest temperatures are found in the mesopause. 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. These gases are chemically inert, although some can react with various chemicals: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, ammonia, ozone, and water vapor. On November 29, 1973, a Rppell's vulture (Gyps rueppelli) was ingested into a jet engine 11,278m (37,000ft) above the Ivory Coast. "Strat" means layer. Stratosphere | atmospheric region | Britannica The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. The stratosphere is a layer of Earths atmosphere. The presence of moisture in the atmosphere is [11] This optimizes fuel efficiency, mostly due to the low temperatures encountered near the tropopause and low air density, reducing parasitic drag on the airframe. Other gases that make up the remaining 0.1 percent include trace amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and neon. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, laying just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Clouds rarely form in the stratosphere for this reason as well, as the air is very dry. The next layer up is called the stratosphere. Ozone protects life on Earth from the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The increase of temperature with altitude is a result of the absorption of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the ozone layer. Atmosphere | NASA Climate Kids It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward. This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. Planting trees is one of the efforts that people have done to try to minimize damage and to help rebuild the damaged ozone layer. The stratosphere is one of five layers of the atmosphere. Along with the neutral upper atmosphere, the ionosphere forms the boundary between Earth's lower atmosphere where we live and breathe and the vacuum of space. Meteorological phenomena are limited to the troposphere since they result from the earths rotation and suns radiation on the atmosphere. 29. 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. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. [2][3] The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer composed of stratified temperature layers, with the warm layers of air high in the sky and the cool layers of air in the low sky, close to the planetary surface of the Earth. Louise Fisher has taught middle school students introductory physics topics for two years. The stratosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. If you do your calculations, each water vapor particle spends approximately nine days in the atmosphere. 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 stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and lies approximately 10km to 50km above the Earth's surface. 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. Thats almost as wide as Earth itself. I feel like its a lifeline. They have been observed by airline pilots and the international space station. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. While common in the troposphere, very little convection takes place in the stratosphere. It is in the thermosphere that the space shuttle flew. The stratosphere is a layer of Earths atmosphere. Stratosphere Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere . Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. Because the temperature in the tropopause and lower stratosphere is largely constant with increasing altitude, very little convection and its resultant turbulence occurs there. There are some species of birds capable of flying in the stratosphere. Without it, the earths surface would be so cold that living here would not be possible. [4] Temperatures range from an average of 51C (60F; 220K) near the tropopause to an average of 15C (5.0F; 260K) near the mesosphere. 8. This was based on temperature profiles from mostly unmanned and a few manned instrumented balloons. Mesosphere lies between 50-85 km above sea level. There are forms of biological bacteria living in the stratosphere. There are little to no clouds in the stratosphere from the lack of convection. Facts About Stratosphere Published: April 3, 2016 The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. 3090 Center Green Drive, Boulder, CO 80301, Air pressure drops, and temperatures get colder, as you climb higher in the troposphere, ACOM | Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling, CISL | Computational & Information Systems, EdEC | Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development, Government Relations & External Engagement. A good percentage of the earths population breathes contaminated air, primarily sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide emitted by industrial factories. Variations in the amount of energy coming from the Sun exert a powerful influence on both the height of the top of this layer and the temperature within it. 50 Interesting Facts About The Atmosphere - The Fact File It extends upward to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) above our planet. It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. The water ice appears younger than we would expect. It occurs naturally in small (trace) amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). Thats the opposite of how the layers work in the troposphere, where we live. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. Folland. 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. They result from ionized particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere above the poles. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence. The stratosphere begins at around 10 kilometers above the surface of the earth. It is possible to send research balloons into the stratosphere. 28. Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are the exception. Moreover, the distance between the molecules increases as you move up the different layers. The Mesosphere | Center for Science Education Composed of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, the stratosphere also contains the ozone layer. A single chlorine atom can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules. To learn more about each layer of the atmosphere, click the images below. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratospheric air is extremely thin and dry since the vast majority of atmospheric gases (and weather activity) are limited to the troposphere. In addition, solar proton events can significantly affect ozone levels via radiolysis with the subsequent formation of OH. 22. It comprises the magnetosphere and ionosphere. The exosphere is the very edge of our atmosphere. "Strat" means layer. Stratosphere is the second layer. This includes its location, what it is composed of, the temperature range, and its density. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful radiation emitted from the Sun. As a meteor begins to enter this layer, it rapidly bumps into mesosphere particles and scrapes against them. (The lack of weather activity in the stratosphere also allows aircraft to avoid adverse weather conditions by flying in the lower stratosphere above the weather.). We live in the troposphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere closest to earth. An increase of altitude in the troposphere makes temperatures decrease, which is why it is much colder on the top of a mountain than on sea level. A rare type of electrical discharge, somewhat akin to lightning, occurs in the stratosphere. Interesting Facts About Mercury. stratosphere, layer of Earth's atmosphere lying between the troposphere and the mesosphere. Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas whose molecules are comprised of three oxygen atoms. It helps in propagation of the radio waves used in telecommunication. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. She has taught in K-12 for more than 15 years, and higher education for ten years. What are the characteristics of stratosphere? A two-step reactive mechanism produces ozone in the stratosphere naturally. Earth's atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. Troposphere - The lowest level of our atmosphere is called the Troposphere. However, the distance of 100 kms from the earths surface is what is considered generally as an imaginary boundary. That's almost as wide as Earth itself. The air in the mesosphere is far too thin to breathe (the air pressure at the bottom of the layer is well below 1% of the pressure at sea level and continues dropping as you go higher). It is easy & understandable to view our atmosphere as a continuous layer of air. Create your account. It has increased the number of respiratory conditions such as asthma. 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. Scientists have been warning people for many years about the damage we are doing to the ozone layer. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. However, temperature increases with altitude in the stratosphere, which is opposite from the troposphere. The atmospheric balance is jeopardized by human activities that cause global warming, greenhouse effect, ozone belt destruction, air contamination, and acid rains. Since almost almost weather activity is limited to the troposphere and almost no water vapor is present in the stratosphere, Polar Stratospheric Clouds is the only visual meteorological phenomenon that can be observed in the stratosphere. [6] Winds in the stratosphere can far exceed those in the troposphere, reaching near 60m/s (220km/h; 130mph) in the Southern polar vortex. In many ways, the thermosphere is more like outer space than a part of the atmosphere. The wind, which is the air current, is generated when the hot air rises and gets replaced by colder air. The Earth's atmosphere is made up of roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases. Also, magnetic and south poles reverse at uneven intervals of hundreds of thousands of years. Different definitions place the top of the exosphere somewhere between 100,000 km (62,000 miles) and 190,000 km (120,000 miles) above the surface of Earth. The stratosphere extends from from 4 -12 miles (6-20 km) above the Earth's surface to around 31 miles (50 km). The ozone layer is very important, as it protects life on Earth from the majority of the UV rays emitted from the sun. It borders the troposphere below through a thin transitional space called the tropopause. It is made up of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. Earth's atmosphere is similar to a jacket for our planet. 18. There is very little water vapor in this layer of the atmosphere, so clouds are a rare occurrence. The QBO induces a secondary circulation that is important for the global stratospheric transport of tracers, such as ozone[14] or water vapor. 32. Convection is the process whereby warm air rises and cooler air descends. 34. The lower boundary of the stratosphere is called the tropopause; the upper boundary is called the stratopause. 35. They go from the ground all the way to outer space. The other four layers include the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. N.Butchart, A.A. Scaife, J. Austin, S.H.E. The stratosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. The amount of water vapour in the stratosphere is very low, and because of this there are no clouds in the stratosphere. Ozone layer (highest concentration of ozone in the atmosphere) The ozone layer is a thin layer of the stratosphere made of a gas called ozone. One wild characteristic of the stratosphere is a phenomenon that occurs, which is known as blue jets. The contrails usually become thin at low humidity and high altitudes. There is no clear-cut upper boundary where the exosphere finally fades away into space. It extends above the tropopause to an altitude of 50 km above the earth. As you might imagine, the "air" in the exosphere is very, very, very thin, making this layer even more space-like than the thermosphere. Privacy Policy However, exceptionally energetic convection processes, such as volcanic eruption columns and overshooting tops in severe supercell thunderstorms, may carry convection into the stratosphere on a very local and temporary basis. The resultant breaking causes large-scale mixing of air and other trace gases throughout the midlatitude surf zone. When the ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, it actually causes another phenomenon that is used to identify different layers in the atmosphere. Stratosphere - Definition, Functions & Characteristics with Videos - BYJUS
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