Stratosphere

The stratosphere begins at the

top of the troposphere (14 km/
9 miles) and extends to about 50
kilometers (31 miles) above the
surface of the Earth.

The word 'stratosphere' is derived

from the word 'strato' meaning
layer, and 'sphere' which is earth's
shape.

The boundary between the

stratosphere and the mesosphere
above is called the
STRATOPAUSE

The boundary between the

stratosphere and the troposphere
below is called the TROPOPAUSE
Stratosphere
As you move up
into the
stratosphere the
air temperature
actually
increases.
Stratosphere
This occurs because
of ozone.
Ozone is a gas that
absorbs solar
radiation and releases
it as heat.
The stratospheric or
"good" ozone protects
life on Earth from the
sun's harmful
ultraviolet (UV) rays.
 Stratosphere
The ozone
layer/
ozonosphere
is located at
the bottom of
the
stratosphere.
 Mesosphere
The mesosphere begins at
about 50 kilometers (31 miles)
above the Earths surface and
extends to 80 kilometers (50
miles).
The word 'mesosphere' is
derived from the Greek words
'mesos sphaira' that literally
translate to 'middle sphere'.
The MESOPAUSE is the
boundary between the
mesosphere and the
thermosphere above it.

The STRATOPAUSE is the

boundary between the
mesosphere and the
stratosphere below it.
 Mesosphere
As you move up into
the mesosphere, the
air temperature
decreases.
Temperatures at the
top of this layer can
drop to -90C
(- 130F ).
Mesosphere
Interestingly, this
layer also protects the
Earth.
Meteoroids entering
Earths atmosphere
usually burn up in the
mesosphere.
The mesosphere's atmosphere is low density
and made up of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and
nitrogen.

The mesosphere is the coldest atmospheric

layer surrounding the earth. It becomes cold
enough to freeze water vapour in its
atmosphere into ice clouds. These ice clouds
are blue-white and are called NOCTILUCENT
CLOUDS OR POLAR MESOSPHERIC
CLOUDS.
The mesosphere experiences atmospheric gravity
waves, atmospheric tides, planetary waves, and
strong winds that flow from north to south and
east to west called ZONAL WINDS.

The research rockets used to study the

mesosphere are also called SOUNDING
ROCKETS.

A strange type of lightning occurs in the

mesosphere. This lightning is referred to as
'SPRITES' OR 'ELVES'.