structure of atmosphere

Question 1

what happens in the troposphere?

Answer 1

zone where most weather occurs contains >5% of the atmosphere virtually all water vapour and particulate matter

Question 2

what is the environmental lapse rate?

Answer 2

decrease of temp in troposphere by 6.5 degrees centigrade/ km due to air expanding density decreases with height

Question 3

what is the troposphere capped by?

Answer 3

a temp inversion it can vary based on SST + pressure + latitude + season. it is at 16km at the equator temps don’t change - isothermal layer transition zone

Question 4

what is the stratosphere?

Answer 4

it is 50km up from tropopause, contains most of the ozone concentration is max at 22km this is characterised by temp increase cause by ozone absorbing UV radiation max temps are at o degrees c, winds are light in low part increase with altitude pressure falls.

Question 5

what does the stratosphere end with?

Answer 5

stratopause and isothermal layer

Question 6

what happens in the mesosphere??

Answer 6

temp falls rapidly no water vapour just cloud dust to absorb radiation and retain heat. temps fall to -90 degrees at 80km wind is around 3000km/h pressure also falls

Question 7

what occurs at 80km?

Answer 7

mesopause isothermal layer due to thermosphere processes

Question 8

what occurs in the thermosphere?

Answer 8

temp rise 1500 degrees centigrade at 350 km, UV is absorbed by molecules and atomic oxygen act like ozone

Question 9

what causes the Auroras?

Answer 9

xrays and UV in the upper thermosphere