♥Stratosphere♥

Stratosphere

The structure of the Earth's atmosphere: Stratosphere

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Stratosphere The stratosphere is the second major stratus (layer) of air in the atmosphere. It resides between 10 and 50 km above the planet's surface. The air temperature in the stratosphere remains relatively constant up to an altitude of 25 km. Then it increases gradually to 470-490 ^oC at the boundary with mesosphere, the stratopause ( which is at a height of ~50 km). The boundary is marked by a decrease in temperature. Because the air temperature in the stratosphere increases with altitude, it does not cause convection and has a stabilising effect on atmospheric conditions in the region.

Ozone plays the major role in regulating the thermal regime of the stratosphere, since water vapor content within the layer is very low. The ozone absorbs the sun's ultraviolet radiation and warms up, therefore temperature increases with ozone concentration.