This layer of Earth's atmosphere is about 319 miles (513 kilometers) thick. - 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 troposphere is where we breath in and is also referred to as the lower atmosphere. The atmosphere is about 500 km thick, with a mix of more than ten different gases. However, just above that is an equally important layer called the stratosphere. Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. Earth's atmosphere is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and one percent other gases. Ninety-nine percent of the gases that compose the atmosphere are located below a height of 32 km (20 miles). However, as you enter the stratosphere, the ozone gas absorbs the ultraviolet light entering the atmosphere from the sun. This breaking is much more pronounced in the winter hemisphere where this region is called the surf zone. Strat means layer. The following list highlights the characteristics and facts of the stratosphere in more detail. Each year, this large amount of water is recycled about 40 times. The layer of very rare air above the mesosphere is called the thermosphere. Acid rains form when nitrogen oxide or Sulphur dioxide combines with water vapor in the atmosphere. [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]. The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, in between the troposphere and the mesosphere. It borders the troposphere below through a thin transitional space called the tropopause. 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. We are not permitting internet traffic to Byjus website from countries within European Union at this time. . The image above illustrates the layers of Earth's atmosphere and their approximate distances from the Earth's surface. The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O3, releasing heat. 18. Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere . 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. Moreover, the distance between the molecules increases as you move up the different layers. 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 . The atmosphere consists of five distinct layers, with the stratosphere being the second, situated just above the troposphere. This is just an estimate, however, as the lower and upper boundaries actually vary with the latitude of the earth. 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. As altitude increases, air density in the layers of the atmosphere decrease. Why Is Carbon Important? It reaches up to the mesosphere, with another thin layer of air called the stratopause separating them. It extends upward to a height of about 85 km (53 miles) above our planet. Strat means layer. Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. Endeavoring to achieve professional growth through ongoing development of skills and using new and accepted methods of . Discover fun facts about the stratosphere and stratosphere characteristics. Unlike the troposphere, it contains little water vapor so there are no clouds in this layer of the atmosphere. 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. 2023 TheFactFile.Org. The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. 9. The atmosphere is a layer of gases retained by gravity on the earth. The atmosphere comprises five layers: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. As the altitude increases, the atmosphere diminishes which is the reason why the air pressure in the exosphere is shallow. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Just like the troposphere, its depth varies with latitude. The mesosphere is directly above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. The air has a very low density that you get into the interplanetary space without a manifest limit. A rare type of electrical discharge, somewhat akin to lightning, occurs in the stratosphere. 3090 Center Green Drive, Boulder, CO 80301, Virtual Ballooning to Explore the Atmosphere, ACOM | Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling, CISL | Computational & Information Systems, EdEC | Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development, Government Relations & External Engagement. Stratosphere is the second layer. Fun Stratosphere Facts for Kids. The shiny blue marble continues to fascinate us since the time we began walking across its surfaces. 3090 Center Green Drive, Boulder, CO 80301, Air pressure drops, and temperatures get colder, as you climb higher in the troposphere, ACOM | Atmospheric Chemistry Observations & Modeling, CISL | Computational & Information Systems, EdEC | Education, Engagement & Early-Career Development, Government Relations & External Engagement. As this article clearly illustrated, the stratosphere has a crucial role to play in maintaining the atmosphere and all life in it. Unlike the troposphere, the stratosphere actually gets warmer the higher you go! Such is the case for ozone-destroying chemicals called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder as you rise up through the mesosphere. 4. Ozone is a chemical compound consisting of three oxygen atoms. 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. In the 1900s, Hungarian physicist Theodore von Krmn determined the boundary to be around 50 miles up, or roughly 80 kilometers above sea level. A two-step reactive mechanism produces ozone in the stratosphere naturally. [6], The mechanism describing the formation of the ozone layer was described by British mathematician Sydney Chapman in 1930. The rising air is literally freeze dried; the stratosphere is a very dry place. The more humid the atmosphere is, the thicker the contrails will be. When the ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, it actually causes another phenomenon that is used to identify different layers in the atmosphere. #1. 1. Convection is the process whereby warm air rises and cooler air descends. Weather balloons also rise up to this level of the atmosphere to collect data without interference of storm clouds. Since blue light has short wavelengths, it gets reflected more compared to other colors. The stratosphere is where youll find the very important ozone layer. There is no clear-cut upper boundary where the exosphere finally fades away into space. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. (The fuel consumption depends on the drag, which is related to the lift by the lift-to-drag ratio.) However, the distance of 100 kms from the earths surface is what is considered generally as an imaginary boundary. Another large-scale feature that significantly influences stratospheric circulation is the breaking planetary waves[15] resulting in intense quasi-horizontal mixing in the midlatitudes. Stratopause is the connection between the mesosphere and stratosphere. If you look up at the sky, either on a clear day or a starry night, it probably wouldn't occur to you that you are looking through layers. That trend of rising temperatures with altitude means that air in the stratosphere lacks the turbulence and updrafts of the troposphere beneath. So, what does the stratosphere do? 25. It helps in propagation of the radio waves used in telecommunication. 17. Its depth also varies from 5.5 to 20 miles depending on latitude as well. To learn more about each layer of the atmosphere, click the images below. Despite Mercury's weak magnetic field, it behaves similarly to Earth's. 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. In this region, the temperature increases with height. Current map of global winds and temperatures at the 10 hPa level. Acidic rains destroy plants and animals, and if it reaches rivers and lakes, it destroys all the aquatic life. It comprises the magnetosphere and ionosphere. (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.). Life as we know it wouldnt be possible without this layer of protection. The next higher layer above the stratosphere is the mesosphere. Moreover, meteorites falling over the earth burn in this layer. 23. 24. The top of the stratosphere occurs at an altitude of 50 km (31 miles). She has taught in K-12 for more than 15 years, and higher education for ten years. This layer of our atmosphere has its own set of layers. The exosphere gradually fades away into the realm of interplanetary space. 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 air in the stratosphere is about 1000 thinner than the air at sea level in the troposphere. On November 29, 1973, a Rppell's vulture (Gyps rueppelli) was ingested into a jet engine 11,278m (37,000ft) above the Ivory Coast. 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. These free-moving elements continuously escape into space due to ballistic trajectories. Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone, and this heat is responsible for . https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stratosphere&oldid=1140010063, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 00:23. 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. It acts as a giant sponge and absorbs the vast majority of the sun's dangerous Ultraviolet Light. It is like a giant magnet and retains high-energy particles, thereby protecting the earth. The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere, which absorb the majority of harmful UV radiation from the sun. Planes and jets will sometimes choose to fly in the stratosphere, where there are no clouds or weather that can affect the ride. They result from ionized particles from the sun striking the upper atmosphere above the poles. These elements react with toxic gases, salt, smoke, and volcanic ash. Atmosphere facts: ninety-nine percent of the gases that compose the atmosphere are located below a height of 32 km (20 miles). These distances vary slightly due to elevation changes on the Earth. Ozone layer lies about 19-32 km over the earths surface. Unlike the troposphere however it is colder closer to the earth and warmer as it gets closer to the mesosphere. 90% of the ozone layer is found in the stratosphere's upper crust. This includes its location, what it is composed of, the temperature range, and its density. In the stratosphere - 'strato' means layer and sphere is the shape of the earth. The stratosphere also contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation as it enters our atmosphere from the sun. 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. The ozone layer is a layer of gas within the stratosphere that protects the Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet sun rays. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Air is roughly a thousand times thinner at the top of the stratosphere than it is at sea level. The timescale of this rapid mixing is much smaller than the much slower timescales of upwelling in the tropics and downwelling in the extratropics. Air density in this layer gradually decreases as you go higher. 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. Polar Stratospheric Clouds develop in this layer near the poles at an altitude of 15 - 25 kilometers. The height of the bottom of the stratosphere varies with latitude and with the seasons. 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. There are a few other atmospheric layers as well -- you can take a look at a diagram of these below. This is due to the temperature changes within the stratosphere. The Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of several gases. 19. That's the opposite of how the . A single chlorine atom can destroy more than a hundred thousand ozone molecules. It changes sometimes unpredictably This diagram shows some of the features of the stratosphere. This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. They are a combination of supercooled water and nitric acid that develop at very low temperatures. Thats almost as wide as Earth itself. 32. The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). You might have seen planes leaving white condensation trails. The Stratosphere also has three thrill rides at the top. This article focus on the stratosphere, Earth's second layer. It is the only atmospheric layer where temperature inversion occurs and the region where the ozone layer is situated. 33. Earths atmosphere has six layers: the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere, the ionosphere, and the exosphere. 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. 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 next layer up is called the stratosphere. As you rise through the troposphere, the temperature decreases to around -60 degrees Fahrenheit. 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. Bacterial life survives in the stratosphere, making it a part of the biosphere. The particles in this layer are electrically charged, and when they hit each other, aurora australis can be observed. Ozone (O3) photolysis produces O and O2. Commercial passenger jets fly in the lower stratosphere, partly because this less-turbulent layer provides a smoother ride. There are some species of birds capable of flying in the stratosphere. The stratosphere is located 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. Almost all weather is in this region. At the outer limit of the magnetic field is the magnetosphere. 110 lessons. Mercury's magnetic field is different at its poles. The mesosphere is the third layer of the atmosphere (above the troposphere and stratosphere.) The stratosphere begins at around 10 kilometers above the surface of the earth. 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. It has increased the number of respiratory conditions such as asthma. The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which make up 99% of the atmosphere. Because of this temperature stratification, there is little convection and mixing in the stratosphere, so the layers of air there are quite stable. The ozone layer helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. We live in one layer, called the troposphere, where the clouds and most of the water vapor reside. Overall, the attenuation of solar UV at wavelengths that damage DNA by the ozone layer allows life to exist on the surface of the planet outside of the ocean.
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