33. In 1985, they observed a hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic. The aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, occur in the thermosphere. Clouds form due to convection, which is uncommon in the stratosphere. [20], Some bird species have been reported to fly at the upper levels of the troposphere. Create an account to start this course today. It has increased the number of respiratory conditions such as asthma. Composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Ozone depletion is a major environmental problem because it increases the amount of ultraviolet (UV . Facts About The Exosphere: The Outermost Layer Of The Atmosphere. Like an onion, the Earth's atmosphere is composed of many layers. Earth's atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. "Strat" means layer. But there are no mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so you dont have to worry about that. 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. The stratosphere the atmosphere's second layer, and is located right above the troposphere and right below the mesosphere. It is the only layer of the atmosphere where temperature inversion occurs. He concluded that there was another layer in the atmosphere above the troposphere, which he called the stratosphere. It extends from about 50 to 85 km (31 to 53 miles) above our planet. 17. The lower boundary of the stratosphere is called the tropopause; the upper boundary is called the stratopause. [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. A good percentage of the earths population breathes contaminated air, primarily sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide emitted by industrial factories. OH is formed by the reaction of electrically excited oxygen atoms produced by ozone photolysis, with water vapor. The holes in the ozone layer have been recorded above the Antarctica seasonally, as well as in other parts of the world. The Earth's atmosphere is very important, as each layer plays a role for life on Earth. This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. 2011 UCAR with portions adapted from Windows to the Universe ( 2009 NESTA). It's about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. The rising air is literally freeze dried; the stratosphere is a very dry place. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. As you might imagine, the "air" in the exosphere is very, very, very thin, making this layer even more space-like than the thermosphere. Clouds rarely form in the stratosphere for this reason as well, as the air is very dry. Certain swans, cranes, and vultures can fly in the lower stratosphere. Ionosphere plays a vital role in radio signals broadcast on the earths surface. This ozone layer is important for man's survival, and for the survival of life on earth, as it absorbs the UV radiation from the sun that would otherwise be deadly. The stratosphere is one of five layers of the atmosphere. As harmful UV rays from the sun become absorbed in the ozone layer, this layer heats up. However, this feature allows commercial airliners to fly in the lower stratosphere while traveling faster and save fuel. 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. Although the sun and other planets have magnetospheres, the earths magnetosphere is the strongest one of all the rocky planets. [22][23], In 1902, Lon Teisserenc de Bort from France and Richard Assmann from Germany, in separate but coordinated publications and following years of observations, published the discovery of an isothermal layer at around 1114km, which is the base of the lower stratosphere. Thats almost as wide as Earth itself. Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced by biological activity at the surface and is oxidised to NO in the stratosphere; the so-called NOx radical cycles also deplete stratospheric ozone. On top of that, air samples from this altitude have shown that certain types of bacteria and microbes are present in the stratosphere, making it the closest to space and furthest from the Earth's surface that humans have found life naturally living. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere . Strat means layer. 14. 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. Brewer-Dobson Circulation occurs in the stratosphere. Acid rains form when nitrogen oxide or Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor in the atmosphere. In the 1900s, Hungarian physicist Theodore von Krmn determined the boundary to be around 50 miles up, or roughly 80 kilometers above sea level. But there are no mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so you dont have to worry about that. Acidic rains destroy plants and animals, and if it reaches rivers and lakes, it destroys all the aquatic life. So, what does the stratosphere do? Stratosphere is the second layer. The shiny blue marble continues to fascinate us since the time we began walking across its surfaces. Convection is when gases cool as they rise, allowing them to condense on air molecules which form clouds. 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. Of all the atmospheric layers, this is the most closest to the Earth. Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder as you rise up through the mesosphere. This article focus on the stratosphere, Earth's second layer. The presence of moisture in the atmosphere is This includes its location, what it is composed of, the temperature range, and its density. The Stratosphere also has three thrill rides at the top. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. Ozone layer lies about 19-32 km over the earths surface. The stratosphere (/strtsfr, -to-/) is the second layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. This layer separates the rest of the atmosphere from outer space. The stratosphere also has an increasing temperature with increasing altitude, which is different than what happens in the troposphere. Though the atmosphere may appear uniform to the naked eye, it is actually similar to a layer cake. Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than it is at sea level. - Structure, Solubility & Products, Arrow Pushing Mechanism in Organic Chemistry, Topicity in Stereochemistry: Relationships & Examples, Antarafacial & Suprafacial Relationships in Organic Chemistry, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude of 50 km (31 miles). The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heat the stratosphere, resulting in a temperature inversion. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. This layer is 22 miles (35 kilometers) thick. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the . Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own specific traits. 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. Instead, the ionosphere is a series of regions in parts of the mesosphere and thermosphere where high-energy radiation from the Sun has knocked electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules. 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 is a major stable layer whose base is marked by the tropopause, and where temperatures overall average approximately 60 C.Temperature in the lower stratosphere is isothermal but increases markedly in the upper part, to reach a maximum of . The temperature increases to about negative {eq}5 {/eq} F in the stratosphere. stratosphere, layer of Earth's atmosphere lying between the troposphere and the mesosphere. 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. Most airplanes or jets travel in the lower part of the stratosphere. 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. Airplanes fly in the stratosphere to avoid turbulence. 15. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. Polar Stratospheric Clouds develop in this layer near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers. To learn more about each layer of the atmosphere, click the images below. The troposphere, the lowest layer, is right below the stratosphere. (Learn more about Nacreous or Polar Stratospheric Clouds in this article.). 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. The wind, which is the air current, is generated when the hot air rises and gets replaced by colder air. 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. Above the troposphere and below the mesosphere, we have the stratosphere. It sets it apart from the other atmospheric layers by temperature rising instead of dropping as altitude increases, a process called temperature inversion. This results in an increase in temperature from about -76 degrees Fahrenheit to around 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The stratosphere the atmosphere's second layer, and is located right above the troposphere and right below the mesosphere. Earths atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. The particles in this layer are electrically charged, and when they hit each other, aurora australis can be observed. Three Highest Thrill Rides in the World. This includes the troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere, and stratosphere. The ozone layer helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. Its about 6,200 miles (10,000 kilometers) thick. These are generated when cold atmospheric air blends with the hot, humid exhaust. Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own specific traits. They result from ionized particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere above the poles. There is very little water vapor in this layer of the atmosphere, so clouds are a rare occurrence. They are much similar to warm breath during cold weather. Create your account. 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). 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. Strat means layer. Interestingly, the most significant portion of the atmosphere is located within twelve kilometers of the earths surface. 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. This allows the stratosphere to have an increasing temperature with altitude. These distances vary slightly due to elevation changes on the Earth. . The image above illustrates the layers of Earth's atmosphere and their approximate distances from the Earth's surface. 20. From space, the earth is seen as a blue halo. Troposphere is the thinnest and closest layer to the earths surface. Composed of mostly nitrogen and oxygen, the stratosphere also contains the ozone layer. [5] Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change, reaching particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter). copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. 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. . 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. Its concentration in the atmosphere naturally fluctuates depending on seasons and latitudes, but it was . The next higher layer above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). The word 'stratosphere' is derived from the word 'strato' meaning layer, and 'sphere' which is earth's shape. Temperature increases with height until the estimated top of the thermosphere at 500 km. Stated another way, it allows the airliner to fly faster while maintaining lift equal to the weight of the plane. 18. It is seen in high latitude areas as shimmering curtains of lights that are visible at night. They are a combination of supercooled water and nitric acid that develop at very low temperatures. Air density is the lowest, and its temperature can increase up to 1500 degrees Celsius. 9. That's the opposite of how the . Mesosphere lies between 50-85 km above sea level. 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. This border is known as the Karman line. In many ways, the thermosphere is more like outer space than a part of the atmosphere. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, which is composed of a total of five layers. Other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, helium, and neon occupy the remaining portion. The infamous ozone layer is found within the stratosphere. Stratosphere. The ionosphere is not a distinct layer like the others mentioned above. What are the characteristics of the five layers of the atmosphere? Commercial airliners typically cruise at altitudes of 912km (30,00039,000ft) which is in the lower reaches of the stratosphere in temperate latitudes. Meteors burn up in the coldest layer, the mesosphere. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. I feel like its a lifeline. Most turbulence at this altitude is caused by variations in the jet stream and other local wind shears, although areas of significant convective activity (thunderstorms) in the troposphere below may produce turbulence as a result of convective overshoot. This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. Above the stratosphere lies the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The ozone layer is a layer of gas within the stratosphere that protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet sun rays. 3. It also consists of a layer known as the ozone layer, a blanket of ozone that absorbs harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.