The atmosphere is made up of several layers of air. The bottom two layers are the troposphere and the stratosphere. How does the troposphere differ from the stratosphere?
The troposphere and the stratosphere are two distinct layers of the Earth's atmosphere with several differences:
1. Altitude: The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface up to an altitude of about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) near the poles and 18 kilometers (11.2 miles) near the equator. The stratosphere lies above the troposphere and extends up to an altitude of around 50 kilometers (31 miles).
2. Temperature: In the troposphere, temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude at an average rate of about 6.4 degrees Celsius per kilometer. This decrease in temperature helps create the typical weather patterns we experience on Earth. Contrastingly, the temperature in the lower region of the stratosphere remains relatively constant, then gradually increases with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer.
3. Composition: Both layers contain almost all of the Earth's atmosphere's mass. However, the composition of gases differs. The troposphere consists mostly of nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%), with trace amounts of other gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor. In the stratosphere, there is a higher concentration of ozone molecules, forming the ozone layer, which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
4. Weather phenomena: The troposphere is where most weather phenomena occur, such as clouds, precipitation, storms, and wind. Its lower layer interacts with the Earth's surface and is responsible for the majority of the weather we experience. In contrast, the stratosphere is relatively stable and free of most weather phenomena, providing a more consistent environment.
5. Aviation: Due to its lower altitude and more turbulent nature, the troposphere is the main layer for aviation activities, including where commercial airplanes fly. The stratosphere, being more stable and containing less turbulence, is generally above the flight altitudes of most aircraft, apart from some specialized aircraft and supersonic jets.
Overall, the main differences between the troposphere and the stratosphere lie in their altitude, temperature profile, composition, weather patterns, and aviation characteristics.