The ozone layer is situated within this layer. Discover fun facts about the stratosphere and stratosphere characteristics. The stratosphere is one of five layers of the atmosphere. . copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. It is also roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) thick. However, this feature allows commercial airliners to fly in the lower stratosphere while traveling faster and save fuel. It is possible to send research balloons into the stratosphere. The temperatures at the different atmospheric layers differ depending on solar radiation, humidity, and altitude. Mercury's magnetic field is different at its poles. At the top of the stratosphere, the density of the air is close to zero. In this region, the temperature increases with height. Skin cancer frequency is increasing due to the thinning of the ozone layer. The stratosphere is very cold, ranging in temperatures from negative 68F to negative 5F. This article focus on the stratosphere, Earth's second layer. 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. [6] Winds in the stratosphere can far exceed those in the troposphere, reaching near 60m/s (220km/h; 130mph) in the Southern polar vortex. 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. She has taught in K-12 for more than 15 years, and higher education for ten years. It changes sometimes unpredictably 2023 TheFactFile.Org. Above the stratosphere lies the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. 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. The ozone layer is a layer of gas within the stratosphere that protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet sun rays. The stratospheric air is extremely thin and dry since the vast majority of atmospheric gases (and weather activity) are limited to the troposphere. The Brief Overview. Earth's atmosphere is a jacket of gases that surrounds our planet. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. It is in the thermosphere that the space shuttle flew. 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. Although it is situated above the upper reaches of conventional aircraft, scientists are still able to study it through the use of weather balloons, high-altitude aircraft, and also weather (sounding) rockets. This layer holds 19 percent of the atmosphere's gases but very little water vapor. 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 ozone layer is within the stratosphere, which protect the Earth from harmful radiation emitted by the sun. Although some experts consider the thermosphere to be the uppermost layer of our atmosphere, others consider the exosphere to be the actual "final frontier" of Earth's gaseous envelope. As a result, air circulation is not as prevalent in this layer of the atmosphere, making it difficult for some gasses to escape. Certain bird species like the common crane, whooper swan, and the Rppel's griffon vulture are capable of flying in the lower stratosphere. It borders the troposphere below through a thin transitional space called the tropopause. The other four layers include the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The stratosphere is a layer of Earths atmosphere. It sets it apart from the other atmospheric layers by temperature rising instead of dropping as altitude increases, a process called temperature inversion. Sunlight is reflected in every direction by the gases present in the atmosphere. 22. As the ozone layer absorbs UV radiation, it causes the temperature in this layer to increase. Atmosphere facts: ninety-nine percent of the gases that compose the atmosphere are located below a height of 32 km (20 miles). 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). In the stratosphere - 'strato' means layer and sphere is the shape of the earth. There are a few other atmospheric layers as well -- you can take a look at a diagram of these below. [6], The mechanism describing the formation of the ozone layer was described by British mathematician Sydney Chapman in 1930. These distances vary slightly due to elevation changes on the Earth. The atmosphere consists of five distinct layers, with the stratosphere being the second, situated just above the troposphere. 5. 12. Instead, clouds condense in the troposphere. The stratosphere ( / strtsfr, - to -/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. Mercury has water ice and organics. In this article, we are going to learn about the atmosphere. The stratosphere also contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation as it enters our atmosphere from the sun. Due to the characteristics of the stratosphere, it is a very important part of Earth's atmosphere. The ozone layer is very important, as it protects life on Earth from the majority of the UV rays emitted from the sun. 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. Learn about the stratosphere, including the stratosphere's definition and importance. - Facts, Layers & Population, The Changing Earth: Volcanoes, Weathering & Deposition, The Four Spheres of Earth: Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, and Atmosphere, Interactions of Earth's Spheres: Purpose and Examples, Ionosphere: Definition, Facts, Temperature & Layers, Understanding Plate Tectonics: Tutoring Solution, Understanding Earthquakes: Tutoring Solution, Understanding Volcanoes: Tutoring Solution, Rock Deformation & Mountain Building: Tutoring Solution, Shaping the Earth's Surface: Tutoring Solution, Energy in the Earth System: Tutoring Solution, Earth's Energy Resources: Tutoring Solution, Earth's Material Resources: Tutoring Solution, Earth Science Investigation & Experimentation: Tutoring Solution, Environmental Science 101: Environment and Humanity, UExcel Pathophysiology: Study Guide & Test Prep, Stratosphere Lesson for Kids: Definition & Facts, What is Alginic Acid? Cred: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio 3. The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The latter value is about halfway to the Moon! It surrounds our planet, keeps us warm, gives us oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens. 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. Solar ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) separates an oxygen molecule into two different oxygen atoms in the first step. It occurs naturally in small (trace) amounts in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). 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. Many satellites actually orbit Earth within the thermosphere! [21] Bar-headed geese (Anser indicus) sometimes migrate over Mount Everest, whose summit is 8,848m (29,029ft). CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Earths atmosphere is similar to a jacket for our planet. Most of the clouds form in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. 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. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. There are five layers of the Earth's atmosphere. The coldest temperatures are found in the mesopause. 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 burning of fossil fuels discharges carbon dioxide, while agricultural developments deposit a lot of methane and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Acidic rains destroy plants and animals, and if it reaches rivers and lakes, it destroys all the aquatic life. (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.). PSCs appear in the lower stratosphere near the poles in winter. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. 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. It keeps us warm, it gives us oxygen to breathe, and its where our weather happens. The stratosphere also traps certain gasses known as CFC's, which are chemicals derived from aerosol. It also consists of a layer known as the ozone layer, a blanket of ozone that absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Theexosphereis really, really big. Stratosphere. The stratosphere has many defining features that make it a unique part of the atmosphere. 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. Commercial airliners fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid the weather, travel faster, and save fuel. The presence of moisture in the atmosphere is Just above that is the stratosphere, the area of the atmosphere where passenger airplanes and weather balloons fly. 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 troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground. It has a very important job: to protect us from harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation. If you do your calculations, each water vapor particle spends approximately nine days in the atmosphere. It is enough to cover the entire earths surface with 1 cm of rain. The more humid the atmosphere is, the thicker the contrails will be. Stratosphere is the second layer. Ozone protects life on Earth from the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Autumn Skies Online Pty Ltd also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites.
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