The bottom of the stratosphere is around 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet) above the ground at middle latitudes. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. The mesosphere is the third layer of the atmosphere (above the troposphere and stratosphere.) The lower portion of the stratosphere is nearly isothermal (a layer of constant temperature), whereas temperatures in its upper levels increase with altitude. Earths atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. In comparison, the warmest in the thermosphere. 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. Of all the atmospheric layers, this is the most closest to the Earth. It has different layers with different qualities. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. 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. [5] Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change, reaching particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter). Create your account. Due to this, the stratosphere has very little convection, which causes chemicals derived from aerosols, known as CFC's, to become confined to the stratosphere. Brewer-Dobson Circulation occurs in the stratosphere. Moving upward from ground level, these layers are called the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Some of these waves and tides carry energy from the troposphere upward into the stratosphere, others convey energy from the stratosphere up into the mesosphere. It reaches up to the mesosphere, with another thin layer of air called the stratopause separating them. Ozone is important for ensuring that just the right amount of ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth. Almost all weather is in this region. The coldest temperatures in Earth's atmosphere, about -90 C (-130 F), are found near the top of this layer. 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 stratosphere is one of five layers of the earth's atmosphere. Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. Its magnetic field goes up to 60,000 km into space. Around the poles, it actually begins at around 7 kilometers, whereas around the equator it can be as high as 20 kilometers. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere. The coldest temperatures are found in the mesopause. Temperatures rise as one moves upward through the stratosphere. The ozone layer is a layer of gas within the stratosphere that protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet sun rays. 25. Stated another way, it allows the airliner to fly faster while maintaining lift equal to the weight of the plane. 1. That means that to get to outer space, you have to be really far from Earth. The stratosphere protects Earth life from extremely harmful UV rays from the sun. The stratosphere (/strtsfr, -to-/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. Composed of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, the stratosphere also contains the ozone layer. The stratosphere is one of the 5 layers of the atmosphere, situated above the troposphere and below the mesosphere at an altitude of 10 km (6 miles), extending to 50 km (30 miles). The burning of fossil fuels discharges carbon dioxide, while agricultural developments deposit a lot of methane and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Many satellites actually orbit Earth within the thermosphere! Strat means layer. The atmosphere surrounds our planet like the peel of an orange. It has increased the number of respiratory conditions such as asthma. 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. Composition of the Earth's atmosphere. These elements react with toxic gases, salt, smoke, and volcanic ash. We now know that there are additional ozone loss mechanisms and that these mechanisms are catalytic meaning that a small amount of the catalyst can destroy a great number of ozone molecules. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and lies approximately 10km to 50km above the Earth's surface. The photosynthesis process enables plants to take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Skin cancer frequency is increasing due to the thinning of the ozone layer. . They shoot upwards through the stratosphere in a blue column to altitudes as high as 50km! Sunlight is reflected in every direction by the gases present in the atmosphere. The stratosphere was discovered in 1900 by French meteorologist Lon Teisserenc de Bort. We are not permitting internet traffic to Byjus website from countries within European Union at this time. The stratosphere also traps certain gasses known as CFC's, which are chemicals derived from aerosol. Privacy Policy Three Highest Thrill Rides in the World. 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. Other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and neon occupy the remaining portion. ozone depletion, gradual thinning of Earth's ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities. [21] Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) sometimes migrate over Mount Everest, whose summit is 8,848m (29,029ft). The stratosphere is very dry air and contains little water vapor. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Aurora is also referred to as polar light. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, in between the troposphere and the mesosphere. The stratosphere has many defining features that make it a unique part of the atmosphere. 24. The stratosphere is actually crucial to allowing us to live on earth, because within the stratosphere you will find the ozone layer. The stratosphere is a layer of extremely stratified air that rises 40 kilometres above the tropopause and comprises about 20% of the atmosphere's mass. Since the stratosphere has increasing temperature with elevation, convection is very rare. Theexosphereis really, really big. 12. Unlike the troposphere, the stratosphere actually gets warmer the higher you go! 20. Thats the opposite of how the layers work in the troposphere, where we live. Louise Fisher has taught middle school students introductory physics topics for two years. The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. "Strat" means layer. It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward. As a result, air circulation is not as prevalent in this layer of the atmosphere, making it difficult for some gasses to escape. But there are no mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so you dont have to worry about that. The ozone layer absorbs the majority of these rays, shielding life from harmful radiation. Mercury has an atmosphere that changes with its distance to the Sun. 18. Various types of waves and tides in the atmosphere influence 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. UCAR/Randy Russell The mesosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. In the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) near the Earth's surface, ozone is created by chemical reactions between air pollutants . The ozone layer is within the stratosphere, which protect the Earth from harmful radiation emitted by the sun. As altitude increases, air density in the layers of the atmosphere decrease. Atmosphere Atmosphere and Its Layers Because the temperature in the tropopause and lower stratosphere is largely constant with increasing altitude, very little convection and its resultant turbulence occurs there. When the ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, it actually causes another phenomenon that is used to identify different layers in the atmosphere. As a meteor begins to enter this layer, it rapidly bumps into mesosphere particles and scrapes against them. Ozone layer lies about 19-32 km over the earths surface. 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. It has a very important job: to protect us from harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation. The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. It is the highest layer. Also, magnetic and south poles reverse at uneven intervals of hundreds of thousands of years. Its about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. Why Is Carbon Important? Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. They result from ionized particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere above the poles. 27. Most of the clouds form in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. 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. Hare, J.R. Knight. The atmosphere consists of five distinct layers, with the stratosphere being the second, situated just above the troposphere. What are the characteristics of the five layers of the atmosphere? This was based on temperature profiles from mostly unmanned and a few manned instrumented balloons. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, laying just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. 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. Commercial airliners fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid the weather, travel faster, and save fuel. 2023 TheFactFile.Org. It is in the thermosphere that the space shuttle flew. Troposphere - The lowest level of our atmosphere is called the Troposphere. The jet stream flows near the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere. Paul J. Crutzen, Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood Rowland were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for their work describing the formation and decomposition of stratospheric ozone.[9]. The stratosphere ( / strtsfr, - to -/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. It is located just above the troposphere, which is the first layer of the atmosphere closest to the ground. It extends above the tropopause to an altitude of 50 km above the earth. The stratosphere can be as deep 20 miles or as shallow as 5.5 miles. It contains 80% of the atmospheric weight, making it the densest layer. There are five layers of the Earth's atmosphere. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude of 50 km (31 miles). This jacket of gases does a lot for us. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Planes and jets will sometimes choose to fly in the stratosphere, where there are no clouds or weather that can affect the ride. 3. 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. Exosphere widely contains particles of helium and hydrogen. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. 2011 UCAR with portions adapted from Windows to the Universe ( 2009 NESTA). She has taught in K-12 for more than 15 years, and higher education for ten years. Some researchers and even students have sent helium balloons with cameras to record the stratosphere. Without it, the earths surface would be so cold that living here would not be possible. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence.