Atmosphere Contents

1. Structure And Composition

The stratosphere is above the troposphere, extending to 50 km

In the stratosphere the temperature, in general, increases with height, reaching a maximum at the stratopause. The stratosphere contains most of the total concentration of ozone, reaching a maximum concentration at around 22 km. The importance of ozone is that it absorbs ultraviolet radiation; the most carcinogenic part of the solar spectrum. Thinning of the ozone layer by halocarbons, a group of predominantly artificial chemicals (including chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs) could potentially allow more ultraviolet radiation through to the Earth's surface which may be detrimental to the biosphere. It is this absorption of ultraviolet light by ozone, however, that warms the stratosphere and this is why the temperature in the stratosphere increases with height. This temperature increase stops convective motion and the stratosphere is highly stratified. There is also little precipitation. Consequently aerosols or gases deposited in the stratosphere tend to stay there for a long time.

What is the stratosphere?