Because of this temperature stratification, there is little convection and mixing in the stratosphere, so the layers of air there are quite stable. The air density is also very low, making it less turbulent to travel through. It contains 80% of the atmospheric weight, making it the densest layer. The Stratosphere | Center for Science Education Earth's atmosphere is a jacket of gases that surrounds our planet. 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. Within no time, the vapor from the exhaust freezes and turns visible. Ice clouds form in this layer which is visible when lighted from beneath during sunset. But there are no mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so you dont have to worry about that. 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. This article focus on the stratosphere, Earth's second layer. 12. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Ozone, which is actually a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms linked together by covalent bonds, absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation that enters the Earth's atmosphere as part of sunlight. The coldest temperatures in Earths atmosphere, about -90 C (-130 F), are found near the top of this layer. Earth's atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence. This is due to the temperature changes within the stratosphere. Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. They have been observed by airline pilots and the international space station. Solar ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) separates an oxygen molecule into two different oxygen atoms in the first step. Facts About the Atmosphere - Overview, Benefits and Its Layers This was based on temperature profiles from mostly unmanned and a few manned instrumented balloons. Louise Fisher has taught middle school students introductory physics topics for two years. The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heat the stratosphere, resulting in a temperature inversion. Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. This jacket of gases does a lot for us. The exosphere is really, really big. 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. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. A rare type of electrical discharge, somewhat akin to lightning, occurs in the stratosphere. 4. Exosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids Cred: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio 3. These troposphere facts are going to make you see the air around you in a very different light and help you learn more about how we live and breathe. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude of 50 km (31 miles). As mentioned in the introduction, certain birds such as cranes, swans, and vultures can fly at this altitude. The layer made of layers Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. The layer of very rare air above the mesosphere is called the thermosphere. The stratosphere has many defining features that make it a unique part 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. Composition of the Earth's atmosphere. (The ozone layer is too large a topic for this article, but you can read more about it in the following post.). In addition, solar proton events can significantly affect ozone levels via radiolysis with the subsequent formation of OH. It acts as a giant sponge and absorbs the vast majority of the sun's dangerous Ultraviolet Light. The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. The amount of water vapour in the stratosphere is very low, and because of this there are no clouds in the stratosphere. 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. The stratosphere the atmosphere's second layer, and is located right above the troposphere and right below the mesosphere. The bottom of the stratosphere is around 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet) above the ground at middle latitudes. 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 . 30. The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. The temperatures decrease by 6.5 degrees Celsius each kilometer, reaching -55 degrees Celsius at the top limit of the troposphere, commonly known as the tropopause. The water ice appears younger than we would expect. . There are some species of birds capable of flying in the stratosphere. 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. Atmosphere | NASA Climate Kids Scientists have been warning people for many years about the damage we are doing to 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). This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. stratosphere The atmospheric layer above the troposphere, which extends on average from about 10 to 50 km above the Earth's surface. A good percentage of the earths population breathes contaminated air, primarily sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide emitted by industrial factories. It is the only atmospheric layer where temperature inversion occurs and the region where the ozone layer is situated. It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, in between the troposphere and the mesosphere. 77 Amazing, Interesting, and Exciting Facts about the Atmosphere As a result of the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 33. This is due to gravity, but mostly due to the temperature inversion in the tropopause that prevents gases from entering the layer. On November 29, 1973, a Rppell's vulture (Gyps rueppelli) was ingested into a jet engine 11,278m (37,000ft) above the Ivory Coast. Approximately 90 percent of the atmosphere's ozone occurs in the stratosphere, the region extending from 10-18 km (6-11 miles) to approximately 50 km (about 30 miles) above Earth's surface. 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. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. However, this feature allows commercial airliners to fly in the lower stratosphere while traveling faster and save fuel. 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. It extends upward to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) above our planet. Stratosphere Facts - Softschools.com 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. As it absorbs the UV light, it absorbs energy. Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder as you rise up through the mesosphere. The ionosphere stretches roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth's surface, right at the edge of space. 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. It contains the ozone layer and is between the troposphere, the first layer of the atmosphere, and the mesosphere, the third layer of the atmosphere. Around the poles, it actually begins at around 7 kilometers, whereas around the equator it can be as high as 20 kilometers. The ozone layer helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. Sunlight is reflected in every direction by the gases present in the atmosphere. 8. 18. 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 lower portion of the stratosphere is nearly isothermal (a layer of constant temperature), whereas temperatures in its upper levels increase with altitude. The jet stream flows near the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere. 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. Its depth also varies from 5.5 to 20 miles depending on latitude as well. 20. The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O3, releasing heat. Moreover, meteorites falling over the earth burn in this layer. Because of this, jet aircraft and weather balloons reach their maximum operational altitudes within the stratosphere. As you go up, it becomes colder. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It keeps us warm, it gives us oxygen to breathe, and its where our weather happens. 1. Due to the characteristics of the stratosphere, it is a very important part of Earth's atmosphere. This is just an estimate, however, as the lower and upper boundaries actually vary with the latitude of the earth. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. The overall circulation of the stratosphere is termed as Brewer-Dobson circulation, which is a single-celled circulation, spanning from the tropics up to the poles, consisting of the tropical upwelling of air from the tropical troposphere and the extra-tropical downwelling of air. However, as you enter the stratosphere, the ozone gas absorbs the ultraviolet light entering the atmosphere from the sun. On October 24, 2014, Alan Eustace became the record holder for reaching the altitude record for a manned balloon at 135,890ft (41,419m). The next higher layer above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. 22. Skin cancer frequency is increasing due to the thinning of the ozone layer. The troposphere is the lowest layer of our atmosphere. These gases are chemically inert, although some can react with various chemicals: carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, methane, ammonia, ozone, and water vapor. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stratosphere&oldid=1140010063, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 00:23.