This unique pattern of temperature changes within layers of the atmosphere is due to the fact
that some atmospheric gases absorb energy from the Sun more easily than others do
.
How does temperature change throughout the atmosphere and what explains the pattern?
Temperature increases as you gain altitude in the stratosphere and the thermosphere
. Temperature decreases as you gain altitude in the troposphere and mesosphere. Air temperature varies in complicated ways with altitude.
What is the pattern of temperature changes as one goes up through the layers of the atmosphere?
Different temperature gradients create different layers within the atmosphere. … The troposphere is heated from the ground, so
temperature decreases with altitude
. Because warm air rises and cool air sinks, the troposphere is unstable. In the stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude.
What was the pattern of air density changes throughout the atmosphere?
Air pressure and density work and change together as you enter different layers of the atmosphere. As
the atmosphere expands the further you get from the Earth’s surface
, it becomes less dense and air pressure decreases. As you increase altitude (distance from Earth’s surface) in an airplane, air pressure changes.
Why does the temperature change in the atmosphere?
The atmosphere today contains more greenhouse gas molecules, so more of the infrared energy emitted by the surface ends up being absorbed by the atmosphere. Since some of the extra energy from a warmer atmosphere radiates back down to the surface, Earth’s surface temperature
rises
.
Which is the coldest layer of our atmosphere?
Located between about 50 and 80 kilometers (31 and 50 miles) above Earth’s surface,
the mesosphere
gets progressively colder with altitude. In fact, the top of this layer is the coldest place found within the Earth system, with an average temperature of about minus 85 degrees Celsius (minus 120 degrees Fahrenheit).
Which is the hottest layer of the atmosphere?
The thermosphere
is often considered the “hot layer” because it contains the warmest temperatures in the atmosphere.
What are the two factors considered in determining the layers of the atmosphere?
The atmosphere can be divided into layers based
on its temperature
, as shown in the figure below. These layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere and the thermosphere. A further region, beginning about 500 km above the Earth’s surface, is called the exosphere.
How does temperature change as you get higher in the atmosphere?
As you increase in elevation, there is less air above you thus the
pressure decreases
. As the pressure decreases, air molecules spread out further (i.e. air expands) and the temperature decreases. If the humidity is at 100 percent (because it’s snowing), the temperature decreases more slowly with height.
What is the importance of each layer of the atmosphere?
All five layers have essential functions that contribute to the development of life on earth. For example, the ozone layer in the stratosphere stops the harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth and the mesosphere is responsible for the
burning
of the meteors and other heavenly objects falling from space.
Which is the coldest layer?
The
top of the mesosphere
is the coldest area of the Earth’s atmosphere because temperature may locally decrease to as low as 100 K (-173°C).
How would Earth be different without the presence of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere?
Without any greenhouse gases, Earth would be
an icy wasteland
. Greenhouse gases keep our planet livable by holding onto some of Earth’s heat energy so that it doesn’t all escape into space. This heat trapping is known as the greenhouse effect.
What are the components of the atmosphere that supports life?
The troposphere
is the only atmospheric layer that can support life. The higher layers have filtered out the harmful radiation, and there are large amounts of water vapor.
Why the temperature decreases with altitude?
As you increase in elevation, there is less air above you thus the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases,
air molecules spread out further
(i.e. air expands), and the temperature decreases. … The temperature in the troposphere — the lowest layer of the earth’s atmosphere — generally decreases with altitude.
What is the temperature change in each layer of the atmosphere?
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 happens to pressure as altitude increases?
As altitude rises, air pressure drops. In other words, if the indicated altitude is high, the air pressure is low. This happens for two reasons. … As altitude increases,
the amount of gas molecules in the air decreases
—the air becomes less dense than air nearer to sea level.
