The wind, which is the air current, is generated when the hot air rises and gets replaced by colder air. The height of the bottom of the stratosphere varies with latitude and with the seasons. Also known as Nacreous Clouds, these unique clouds develop near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers (9 - 15 miles) during the winter months. The exosphere gradually fades away into the realm of interplanetary space. [6] Winds in the stratosphere can far exceed those in the troposphere, reaching near 60m/s (220km/h; 130mph) in the Southern polar vortex. The exosphere is the very edge of our atmosphere. Luckily the situation has improved since the ban of chlorofluorocarbon. Privacy Policy 17. The stratosphere is very cold, ranging in temperatures from negative 68F to negative 5F. It contains 80% of the atmospheric weight, making it the densest layer. The greenhouse gases increase the effect making the earths surface to be warmer than usual. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. [20], Some bird species have been reported to fly at the upper levels of the troposphere. That's almost as wide as Earth itself. Exosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. [12] Eustace also broke the world records for vertical speed skydiving, reached with a peak velocity of 1,321km/h (822mph) and total freefall distance of 123,414ft (37,617m) lasting four minutes and 27 seconds.[13]. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. Moving upward from ground level, these layers are called the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Such is the case for ozone-destroying chemicals called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun are absorbed in the thermosphere, raising its temperature to hundreds or at times thousands of degrees. A single chlorine atom can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules. It is the reason why the sky appears blue. The stratosphere the atmosphere's second layer, and is located right above the troposphere and right below the mesosphere. Certain birds can fly to this altitude, including cranes, swans, and vultures. For years, CFCs - a chemical used in aerosols - were transported the stratosphere via convection and became trapped there. While common in the troposphere, very little convection takes place in the stratosphere. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. 2023 TheFactFile.Org. It borders the troposphere below through a thin transitional space called the tropopause. The stratosphere (/strtsfr, -to-/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude of 50 km (31 miles). 31. 50 Interesting Facts About The Atmosphere - Page 2 of 3 - The Fact File The stratosphere extends from from 4 -12 miles (6-20 km) above the Earth's surface to around 31 miles (50 km). The next higher layer above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. The electrically charged atoms and molecules that are formed in this way are called ions, giving the ionosphere its name and endowing this region with some special properties. It is the only atmospheric layer where temperature inversion occurs and the region where the ozone layer is situated. Here are 50 Interesting facts about the atmosphere that you probably didnt know. 2011 UCAR with portions adapted from Windows to the Universe ( 2009 NESTA). Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own specific traits. 12 chapters | This results in an increase in temperature from about -76 degrees Fahrenheit to around 5 degrees Fahrenheit. [24], Seinfeld, J. H., and S. N.(2006), Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change 2nd ed, Wiley, New Jersey. What are the characteristics of the five layers of the atmosphere? It has a very important job: to protect us from harmful energy from the Sun, called radiation. 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. Earths atmosphere is similar to a jacket for our planet. It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward. Ozone layer lies about 19-32 km over the earths surface. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence. Scientists have been warning people for many years about the damage we are doing to the ozone layer. Within no time, the vapor from the exhaust freezes and turns visible. Although the sun and other planets have magnetospheres, the earths magnetosphere is the strongest one of all the rocky planets. Composed of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, the stratosphere also contains the ozone layer. As the ozone layer absorbs UV radiation, it causes the temperature in this layer to increase. All rights reserved. The stratosphere protects Earth life from extremely harmful UV rays from the sun. Radicals produced from the homolytically split oxygen molecules combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone. Theexosphereis really, really big. Damage to the ozone layer of the stratosphere occurs naturally when volcanic gases and dust reach the stratosphere, but people have been contributing to this as well with the use of aerosol's containing CFCs. In addition, solar proton events can significantly affect ozone levels via radiolysis with the subsequent formation of OH. Facts About The Stratosphere: What It Is And Its Defining Characteristics 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. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Stratosphere | atmospheric region | Britannica The stratosphere is where youll find the very important ozone layer. Ozone (O3) is a highly reactive gas whose molecules are comprised of three oxygen atoms. The layer made of layers. The other four layers include the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The ozone layer is very important, as it protects life on Earth from the majority of the UV rays emitted from the sun. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the . 29. In fact, the air in the exosphere is constantly - though very gradually - "leaking" out of Earth's atmosphere into outer space. 110 lessons. Ninety-nine percent of the gases that compose the atmosphere are located below a height of 32 km (20 miles). Because of this, the top of the thermosphere can be found anywhere between 500 and 1,000 km (311 to 621 miles) above the ground. These elements react with toxic gases, salt, smoke, and volcanic ash. It is like a giant magnet and retains high-energy particles, thereby protecting the earth. 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 main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. It not only examines what the stratosphere is but also looks at the characteristics or facts that define it. This layer of Earth's atmosphere is about 319 miles (513 kilometers) thick. In many ways, the thermosphere is more like outer space than a part of the atmosphere. It extends from about 50 to 85 km (31 to 53 miles) above our planet. Ozone is important for ensuring that just the right amount of ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth. Ice clouds form in this layer which is visible when lighted from beneath during sunset. As a result, air circulation is not as prevalent in this layer of the atmosphere, making it difficult for some gasses to escape. It is also roughly 35 kilometers (22 miles) thick. 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. Although humans would not be able to survive in the stratosphere due to thin air and frigid temperatures, there is life that can and does survive there. It is important because it contains the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from harmful UV rays. There are a few other atmospheric layers as well -- you can take a look at a diagram of these below. 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. Troposphere is the thinnest and closest layer to the earths surface. Stratosphere - The Stratosphere makes up around 25% of the total of Earth's atmosphere, and is home to more than 90% of our Earth's O-Zone layer. The thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions, especially over Antarctica. Convection is when gasses cool down as they rise, allowing them to condense onto air particles and form clouds. 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 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. ], While looking up at the sky on a cloud-free day, one will see what looks like a continuous piece of[], The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, It extends from a height of approximately 10 km. Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. Convection is the process whereby warm air rises and cooler air descends. The lower portion of the stratosphere is nearly isothermal (a layer of constant temperature), whereas temperatures in its upper levels increase with altitude. 77 Exciting Facts about the Atmosphere - LovePsychologys In 1985, they observed a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic. "Strat" means layer. [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. . Almost all weather is in this region. Thermosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids The stratosphere is home to the ozone layer, which is a thin layer of concentrated ozone which plays an essential role in protecting the Earth from dangerous solar radiation. Thats almost as wide as Earth itself. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and lies approximately 10km to 50km above the Earth's surface. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Atmosphere Atmosphere and Its Layers 21. 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. As a result, it tends to trap any and all gases that enter this region of the atmosphere. As it absorbs the UV light, it absorbs energy. Planes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence and fly longer distances using less fuel. The rising air is literally freeze dried; the stratosphere is a very dry place. This is just an estimate, however, as the lower and upper boundaries actually vary with the latitude of the earth. The lower boundary of the stratosphere is called the tropopause; the upper boundary is called the stratopause. What are the characteristics of stratosphere? A rare type of electrical discharge, somewhat akin to lightning, occurs in the stratosphere. Thats the opposite of how the layers work in the troposphere, where we live. What are 3 interesting facts about Mercury? Strat means layer. While the troposphere is filled with a vast assortment of clouds thanks to a gas we know as water vapor, the stratosphere is a vast, clear blue sky. Due to the characteristics of the stratosphere, it is a very important part of Earth's atmosphere. As harmful UV rays from the sun become absorbed in the ozone layer, this layer heats up. Moreover, the distance between the molecules increases as you move up the different layers. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. However, just above that is an equally important layer called the stratosphere. One of the most surprising things about the stratosphere is not its characteristics but about what you find in this layer. Troposphere. It is called stratosphere because it is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. The atmosphere has nearly 37.5 million billion gallons of water at any given time. 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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. The atmosphere comprises five layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. The atmosphere is dense near the surface of the Earth and protects life on the planet Earth. Earth's Atmospheric Layers | NASA That means that to get to outer space, you have to be really far from Earth. A.A. Scaife, J.R. Knight, G.K. Vallis, C.K. Starting at ground level, it extends upward to about 10 km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet) above sea level. 77 Amazing, Interesting, and Exciting Facts about the Atmosphere Near the equator, the lower edge of the stratosphere is as high as 20km (66,000ft; 12mi), at midlatitudes around 10km (33,000ft; 6.2mi), and at the poles about 7km (23,000ft; 4.3mi). Acidic rains destroy plants and animals, and if it reaches rivers and lakes, it destroys all the aquatic life. However, it is made up out of five different layers: The troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. It is seen in high latitude areas as shimmering curtains of lights that are visible at night. The atmosphere is a layer of gases retained by gravity on the earth. 1. It is possible to send research balloons into the stratosphere. The rides, which are called The Big Shot, Insanity and X-Scream, are equally terrifying and exciting. The thermosphere is home to the International Space Station as it orbits Earth. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. N.Butchart, A.A. Scaife, J. Austin, S.H.E. 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. 10. The Earth's atmosphere is made up of roughly 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.1% other gases. Facts About Stratosphere - GKToday Stratosphere Facts, Characteristics & Composition | What is the Between the troposphere and stratosphere is the tropopause border that demarcates the beginning of the temperature inversion. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. The HO2 radical produced by the reaction of OH with O3 is recycled to OH by reaction with oxygen atoms or ozone. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Since the ozone layer absorbs UV rays from the sun, it heats up, which allows temperatures to increase as altitude increases. The other four layers include the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Large volcanic eruptions and major meteorite impacts can fling aerosol particles up into the stratosphere where they may linger for months or years, sometimes altering Earth's global climate. As you go up, it becomes colder. The atmosphere is one of four spheres of the earth, which include the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the biosphere, and the lithosphere. 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. "Strat" means layer. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere also contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation as it enters our atmosphere from the sun. This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. Troposphere - The lowest level of our atmosphere is called the Troposphere. Because of this, few clouds are found in this layer and almost all clouds occur in the lower, more humid troposphere. The presence of moisture in the atmosphere is The stratosphere accounts for approximately 24% of the earth's total atmosphere. Requested URL: byjus.com/chemistry/stratosphere/, User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 15_5 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/605.1.15 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/15.5 Mobile/15E148 Safari/604.1. In the lower atmosphere (the troposphere) near the Earth's surface, ozone is created by chemical reactions between air pollutants . The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, which is composed of a total of five layers. 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. Mesosphere lies between 50-85 km above sea level. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The exosphere gradually fades away into the realm of interplanetary space. Earth's Atmosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids That's the opposite of how the . Stratosphere | NASA Space Place - NASA Science for Kids Stratosphere. Its about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. Commercial airliners fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid the weather, travel faster, and save fuel. Middle School Earth Science: Tutoring Solution, Earth's Spheres & Structure: Tutoring Solution, Earth's Internal Layers: Crust, Mantle & Core, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Stratosphere Facts: Fun Facts About the Stratosphere, How The Earth is Shaped: Earthquakes, Faults & Tsunamis, What is Earth? The photosynthesis process enables plants to take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. They shoot upwards through the stratosphere in a blue column to altitudes as high as 50km! The stratospheric air is extremely thin and dry since the vast majority of atmospheric gases (and weather activity) are limited to the troposphere. This decrease in temperature with altitude is what causes convection to occur in the troposphere. The destruction of the ozone layer lets an enormous amount of ultraviolet rays reach the earth, which leads to skin cancer and cataracts in humans and animals alike. At the outer limit of the magnetic field is the magnetosphere. The layer made of layers Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. Planes and jets will sometimes choose to fly in the stratosphere, where there are no clouds or weather that can affect the ride. The ionosphere stretches roughly 50 to 400 miles above Earth's surface, right at the edge of space. [4] The temperature inversion is in contrast to the troposphere, near the Earth's surface, where temperature decreases with altitude. This border is known as the Karman line. The stratosphere extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the ground. Ionization takes place in the ionosphere caused by the suns radiation. In this region, the temperature increases with height. However, this feature allows commercial airliners to fly in the lower stratosphere while traveling faster and save fuel. OH is formed by the reaction of electrically excited oxygen atoms produced by ozone photolysis, with water vapor. The stratosphere can be as deep 20 miles or as shallow as 5.5 miles. The Brief Overview. The stratosphere is one of five layers of the atmosphere. These "blue jets" appear above thunderstorms, and extend from the bottom of the stratosphere up to altitudes of 40 or 50 km (25 to 31 miles). They are found at altitudes of 15 to 25 km (9.3 to 15.5 miles) and form only when temperatures at those heights dip below -78 C. They appear to help cause the formation of the infamous holes in the ozone layer by "encouraging" certain chemical reactions that destroy ozone. So, what does the stratosphere do? It borders the mesosphere above through a thin transitional space called the stratopause. This jacket of gases does a lot for us. They are much similar to warm breath during cold weather. However, the distance of 100 kms from the earths surface is what is considered generally as an imaginary boundary. It extends above the tropopause to an altitude of 50 km above the earth. Commercial airliners typically cruise at altitudes of 912km (30,00039,000ft) which is in the lower reaches of the stratosphere in temperate latitudes. Clouds rarely form in the stratosphere for this reason as well, as the air is very dry. Rocket launches inject exhaust gases into the stratosphere, producing uncertain consequences. What's in the Atmosphere? [7] Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV-C region, at wavelengths shorter than about 240nm. However, the air in this layer is so thin that it would feel freezing cold to us! Polar Stratospheric Clouds develop in this layer near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers. 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. 34. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. This breaking is much more pronounced in the winter hemisphere where this region is called the surf zone. [5] Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change, reaching particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter). It changes sometimes unpredictably In this article, we are going to learn about the atmosphere. The ozone layer is within the stratosphere, which protect the Earth from harmful radiation emitted by the sun. The first is due to the reaction of hydroxyl radicals (OH) with ozone. 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 air has a very low density that you get into the interplanetary space without a manifest limit. Its upper edge has maximum ozone concentration, referred to as the ozone belt. In fact, the ozone layer absorbs most of the UV radiation the sun sends to us. The stratosphere is a layer of Earths atmosphere. Air density is the lowest, and its temperature can increase up to 1500 degrees Celsius. 5. 28. 2. Most of the clouds form in the troposphere, just below the stratosphere. Instead, clouds condense in the troposphere. If you do your calculations, each water vapor particle spends approximately nine days in the atmosphere. On October 24, 2014, Alan Eustace became the record holder for reaching the altitude record for a manned balloon at 135,890ft (41,419m). 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. Within the stratosphere temperatures increase with altitude (see temperature inversion); the top of the stratosphere has a temperature of about 270 K (3C or 26.6F).[8]. This was based on temperature profiles from mostly unmanned and a few manned instrumented balloons. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere. Planes and jets will sometimes. PSCs appear in the lower stratosphere near the poles in winter. The ozone layer helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. Providing an environment conducive to good instruction and motivation in which there is an atmosphere of self-motivation and self-discipline in the areas of personal development, character, and academic integrity. PSCs are also called nacreous clouds. Ozone molecules in this layer absorb high-energy ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun, converting the UV energy into heat. Meteors burn up in the coldest layer, the mesosphere. A good percentage of the earths population breathes contaminated air, primarily sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide emitted by industrial factories. Acid rains form when nitrogen oxide or Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor in the atmosphere. 18. Layers of Earth's Atmosphere | Center for Science Education 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. 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. It is in the thermosphere that the space shuttle flew. Atmosphere | NASA Climate Kids Due to the high speed of the meteor, it generates a lot of heat resulting from high friction between the particles and the meteor. These gases are found in layers (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere) defined by unique features such as temperature and pressure. This is how certain gases become trapped in the stratosphere, like CFC's and ozone. Certain birds will even fly in the stratosphere, including swans, cranes, and vultures! Stratosphere | Encyclopedia.com This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified. Thislayerseparates the rest of the atmosphere from outer space. 23. The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, laying just above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. The stratosphere is where youll find the very important ozone layer. While the stratosphere is dry, additional water vapor is produced in situ by the photochemical oxidation of methane (CH4). The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heat the stratosphere, resulting in a temperature inversion. The stratosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere . Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone, and this heat is responsible for . The lower boundary of the stratosphere can be as high as 20 km (12 miles or 65,000 feet) near the equator and as low as 7 km (4 miles or 23,000 feet) at the poles in winter. 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. Thus it means layer which surrounds the earth. As previously mentioned, the stratosphere is one of the five layers that make up the Earth's atmosphere. The QBO induces a secondary circulation that is important for the global stratospheric transport of tracers, such as ozone[14] or water vapor. 14. As the altitude increases, the atmosphere diminishes which is the reason why the air pressure in the exosphere is shallow.
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Rip Farris Charlotte Nc, Articles W