How do atmospheric layers affect temperature?
In some layers, temperature increases with altitude and in others it decreases. The temperature gradient in each layer is determined by the heat source of the layer (Figure below). The four main layers of the atmosphere have different temperature gradients, creating the thermal structure of the atmosphere.
What are the atmospheric layers?
From lowest to highest, the major layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
What determines the temperature of a layer of the atmosphere?
The temperature gradient in each layer is determined by the heat source of the layer. Most of the important processes of the atmosphere take place in the lowest two layers: the troposphere and the stratosphere.
What is the temperature layer?
The thermosphere is often considered the “hot layer” because it contains the warmest temperatures in the atmosphere. Temperature increases with height until the estimated top of the thermosphere at 500 km.
Why does the temperature of different layers of the atmosphere vary?
The temperature of atmospheric layers varies because of the way solar energy is absorbed by different gases.
Why does temperature increase in stratosphere?
The pattern of temperature increase with height in the stratosphere is the result of solar heating as ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 0.200 to 0.242 micrometre dissociates diatomic oxygen (O2). The resultant attachment of single oxygen atoms to O2 produces ozone (O3).
What is the temperature of the stratosphere?
Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone and this heat is responsible for temperature increases from an average -60°F (-51°C) at tropopause to a maximum of about 5°F (-15°C) at the top of the stratosphere. This increase in temperature with height means warmer air is located above cooler air.
What is the temperature in the thermosphere?
The thermosphere is typically about 200° C (360° F) hotter in the daytime than at night, and roughly 500° C (900° F) hotter when the Sun is very active than at other times. Temperatures in the upper thermosphere can range from about 500° C (932° F) to 2,000° C (3,632° F) or higher.
What’s the temperature outside Earth’s atmosphere?
The average temperature of outer space near Earth is 283.32 kelvins (10.17 degrees Celsius or 50.3 degrees Fahrenheit). In empty, interstellar space, the temperature is just 3 kelvins, not much above absolute zero, which is the coldest anything can ever get.
What is the normal atmospheric temperature?
Normal, or ambient temperature is 70 °F (21° C). Normal pressure is one atmosphere (1013 hPa) or 14,696 psia.