GG231 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Mesoscale Convective Complex, Outflow Boundary, Lightning
Document Summary
The troposphere starts at the earth"s surface and extends 8 to 14. 5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. Almost all weather is in this region: stratosphere. The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation, is in this layer: mesosphere. The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles) high. Meteors burn up in this layer: thermosphere. The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high. Pressure - air is circulated from one site to another where there is a difference in pressure. Vertical stability - the resistance of the atmosphere to vertical motion. Heating from below promotes instability while cooling from below promotes stability.
