Describe the temperature changes in the atmosphere with height, and discuss the important characteristics of the four atmospheric layers defined by temperature

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Temperature decreases with height in the troposphere, increases in the stratosphere, decreases in the mesosphere and increases in the thermosphere. The depth of the troposphere varies considerably, ranging from 8 to 20 km (3.6 to 12 mi), with a mean of about 15 km. The troposphere contains about 90 percent of the atmosphere's mass. Above the tropopause is the stratosphere, a name derived from the Latin word for layer. Except for the penetration of some strong thunderstorms into the lower stratosphere, little weather occurs in this region. Within the stratosphere is the ozone layer, a zone of increased ozone concentration at altitudes between 20 and 30 km. Of the 0.1 percent of the atmosphere not contained in the troposphere and stratosphere, 99.9 percent exists in the mesosphere, which extends to a height of about 80 km (50 mi) above sea level. As in the troposphere, temperature in the mesosphere decreases with altitude. The only significant source of heat is absorption of solar radiation near the base of the mesosphere. This is dispersed upward only weakly by vertical air motions, thus temperatures fall rapidly with increasing altitude. Above the mesosphere is the thermosphere, where temperature increases vertically to values in excess of 1500 °C