23. If you do your calculations, each water vapor particle spends approximately nine days in the atmosphere. Such is the case for ozone-destroying chemicals called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). . When greenhouse gases rise into the atmosphere, they form chloride ions that destroy the ozone layer by making holes in it. There are little to no clouds in the stratosphere from the lack of convection. What Is the Greenhouse Effect? This creates a smoother ride for passengers, as there are few clouds or weather in the stratosphere. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. This includes the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and stratosphere. The stratosphere extends from from 4 -12 miles (6-20 km) above the Earth's surface to around 31 miles (50 km). Commercial airliners typically cruise at altitudes of 912km (30,00039,000ft) which is in the lower reaches of the stratosphere in temperate latitudes. Theexosphereis really, really big. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. There are five layers of the Earth's atmosphere. [4] Temperatures range from an average of 51C (60F; 220K) near the tropopause to an average of 15C (5.0F; 260K) near the mesosphere. Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases. The ozone layer is situated within this layer. Meteors burn up in the coldest layer, the mesosphere. The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O3, releasing heat. What are the characteristics of the five layers of the atmosphere? Interestingly, the most significant portion of the atmosphere is located within twelve kilometers of the earths surface. There is very little water vapor in this layer of the atmosphere, so clouds are a rare occurrence. 21. 12 chapters | However, the air in this layer is so thin that it would feel freezing cold to us! These events often precede unusual winter weather [16] and may even be responsible for the cold European winters of the 1960s.[17]. Stated another way, it allows the airliner to fly faster while maintaining lift equal to the weight of the plane. For this reason, humans would not be able to survive at this altitude without being inside of a plane, rocket, or some type of enclosed environment where air density can be regulated. 4. 77 Amazing, Interesting, and Exciting Facts about the Atmosphere Clouds form when water vapor condenses into a liquid, and with very little water, vapor condensation is virtually impossible. Some researchers and even students have sent helium balloons with cameras to record the stratosphere. This layer of Earth's atmosphere is about 319 miles (513 kilometers) thick. That means that to get to outer space, you have to be really far from Earth. It comprises the magnetosphere and ionosphere. It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward. #1. [5] Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change, reaching particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter). Cred: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio 3. The image above illustrates the layers of Earth's atmosphere and their approximate distances from the Earth's surface. Temperatures rise as one moves upward through the stratosphere. Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. This allows the stratosphere to have an increasing temperature with altitude. The stratosphere is a layer of Earth's atmosphere. . 31. 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. 3. That's the opposite of how the . The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the . The ionosphere is not a distinct layer like the others mentioned above. 90% of the ozone layer is found in the stratosphere's upper crust. 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. The stratosphere protects Earth life from extremely harmful UV rays from the sun. measured by the humidity of the air. Troposphere - The lowest level of our atmosphere is called the Troposphere. Troposphere is the thinnest and closest layer to the earths surface. N.Butchart, A.A. Scaife, J. Austin, S.H.E. Since the stratosphere has increasing temperature with elevation, convection is very rare. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. [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. Rocket launches inject exhaust gases into the stratosphere, producing uncertain consequences. The stratosphere (/strtsfr, -to-/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. There are some species of birds capable of flying in the stratosphere. The stratosphere was discovered in 1900 by French meteorologist Lon Teisserenc de Bort. It extends upward to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) above our planet. What's in the Atmosphere? Learn about the stratosphere, including the stratosphere's definition and importance. This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. [18] When the vortex is strong, it keeps the cold, high-pressure air masses contained in the Arctic; when the vortex weakens, air masses move equatorward, and results in rapid changes of weather in the mid latitudes. To learn more about each layer of the atmosphere, click the images below. 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. This results in an increase in temperature from about -76 degrees Fahrenheit to around 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The latter value is about halfway to the Moon! Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone, and this heat is responsible for . Ozone (O3) photolysis produces O and O2. Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. The stratosphere is situated just above the troposphere, with a thin layer of air called the tropopause separating the two layers. The stratosphere is actually crucial to allowing us to live on earth, because within the stratosphere you will find the ozone layer. The word 'stratosphere' is derived from the word 'strato' meaning layer, and 'sphere' which is earth's shape. It acts as a giant sponge and absorbs the vast majority of the sun's dangerous Ultraviolet Light. It is easy & understandable to view our atmosphere as a continuous layer of air. 40 Unbelievable But True Troposphere Facts | Kidadl At Home Show All Free Coloring Pages Free Dot to Dot Printables Free Printable Stencils Funnies Trivia Birthdays Books Creative, Arts & Crafts 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. Unlike the troposphere, the stratosphere actually gets warmer the higher you go! [20], Some bird species have been reported to fly at the upper levels of the troposphere. It keeps us warm, it gives us oxygen to breathe, and its where our weather happens. The resultant breaking causes large-scale mixing of air and other trace gases throughout the midlatitude surf zone. 16. . The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The stratosphere is one of five layers of the atmosphere. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. 26. Convection is when gases cool as they rise, allowing them to condense on air molecules which form clouds. This UV radiation is important for the production of vitamin D in humans, but too much can destroy tissue. Current map of global winds and temperatures at the 10 hPa level. 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 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 stratosphere also contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation as it enters our atmosphere from the sun. 3. The ozone layer is a layer of gas within the stratosphere that protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet sun rays. Within no time, the vapor from the exhaust freezes and turns visible. While the stratosphere is dry, additional water vapor is produced in situ by the photochemical oxidation of methane (CH4). The stratosphere is where youll find the very important ozone layer. Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder as you rise up through the mesosphere. The air in the stratosphere is about 1000 thinner than the air at sea level in the troposphere. 9. Stratosphere is the second layer. As previously mentioned, the stratosphere is one of the five layers that make up the Earth's atmosphere. Geomagnetic solar storms caused by solar flares or solar winds can disrupt activities in the ionosphere, causing difficulty in transmitting radio signals and global positioning system signals. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below 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. The ozone layer absorbs the majority of these rays, shielding life from harmful radiation. Ionosphere plays a vital role in radio signals broadcast on the earths surface. Air pressure drops, and temperatures get colder, as you climb higher in the troposphere. Temperature increases with height until the estimated top of the thermosphere at 500 km. Polar Stratospheric Clouds develop in this layer near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers. This is due to the temperature changes within the stratosphere. The ozone layer is within the stratosphere, which protect the Earth from harmful radiation emitted by the sun. 13. 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 atmosphere is a layer of gases retained by gravity on the earth. The Stratosphere also has three thrill rides at the top. If you were to climb a mountain in the stratosphere you would have to take off your warm clothes as you got closer to the top rather than putting them on like we usually do. The lower boundary of the stratosphere is called the tropopause; the upper boundary is called the stratopause. We live in the troposphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere closest to earth. "Strat" means layer. Fun Stratosphere Facts for Kids. There is no clear-cut upper boundary where the exosphere finally fades away into space. 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. The Earth's atmosphere is made up of roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases.