Within layers of the atmosphere we have the lowest which is where we live and which is known by the name of troposphereThey extend from the Earth's surface to the beginning of the stratosphere, which is the layer where the ozone layer is found. The troposphere includes the air we breathe and all the planet's meteorological and climatic processes, such as the water cycle, which are essential for life. Therefore, it has become one of the most important layers of the Earth's atmosphere.
In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics and importance of the troposphere.
Key features
When we walk down the street and feel the wind on our faces or observe the clouds in the sky, all of this belongs to the troposphere. It is primarily characterized by a decrease in temperature as altitude increases. Each time we ascend in altitude, the temperature decreases because the solar radiation falling on the ground no longer acts as a temperature regulator. For every thousand feet, the temperature increases by 6.5 degrees.
The air in the troposphere becomes less dense as altitude increases. This is why mountaineers often use bottled oxygen to breathe. This layer is approximately 8–14 kilometers thick, depending on the area. It is thinnest in the North and South Pole regions and is at its widest near the Equator.
The layer immediately above the troposphere is the stratosphere. The boundary between these two layers is known by the name of tropopauseThe stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays and our skin. The air in the troposphere is denser than in any other layer of the atmosphere. In fact, it is known that the troposphere represents 80% of the mass of the entire atmosphere. When the top of a cloud during a thunderstorm flattens into an anvil shape, it's usually because the storm's updrafts have already reached the tropopause. At the tropopause, the ambient air is warmer than the storm, and so it stops rising.
The composition of the air in this layer it is composed of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygenThe remaining 1% is composed of argon, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. It is known that carbon dioxide has been increasing in proportion over the years due to human emissions. The lower part of the troposphere, the area closest to the Earth's surface, is called the boundary layer. You can also read more about the boundary layer to better understand its dynamics.
Differences between the stratosphere and the troposphere
First of all, point out that the atmosphere has different layers. The lowest is the troposphere and just above it is the stratosphere. Due to different factors, they must be classified as different layers. And it is that each one has different characteristics and climatic variables. The air pressure, temperature, temperature gradient, wind speed, and wind direction are different in both layers.
The boundary between the stratosphere and the troposphere is called the tropopause, and it is not a constant zone. It is usually found at distances of 8–14 kilometers above sea level and is an isotherm. This means it is a zone where the temperature is stable. Weather patterns, as we know them, only occur in the troposphere, as the air near the ground is warmer than the air at higher altitudes. This occurs because the ground absorbs and radiates heat from the sun. With this negative temperature gradient with respect to altitude, the hot air is able to rise and create a convection current. These convection currents are what produce wind and cloud patterns. If you're interested in learning more about the structure of the atmosphere, you can read the structure of the atmosphere.
In contrast, in the stratosphere, the ozone layer is responsible for absorbing sunlight, deflecting heat downward. Here, temperature increases with altitude. The stratosphere is located at an altitude of approximately 50 kilometers. Considering that warm, high-quality, and humid air tends to rise, and cold air descends, winds, clouds, and precipitation form in the troposphere, whereas they do not in the stratosphere. In this layer, conditions are more stable, as air pressure is much lower, and warm air prevents the formation of convection currents. Turbulence is virtually nonexistent, and the winds are stable. They blow in a stable, horizontal direction, and therefore, commercial airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid this turbulence.
The troposphere contains around the 75% of the gases in the atmosphere, while the stratosphere only has 19%.
Importance of the troposphere
This layer has become the most important on the entire planet, as it is highly sensitive to the processes occurring at this level. The dynamics of the oceans and the water cycle, plant photosynthesis, animal respiration, and human activities all occur in the troposphere. Furthermore, It is the layer of the atmosphere where the climate occurs.
The atmospheric pressure at the top is almost a fifth of that at the bottom. In other words, without the troposphere, we would all die of altitude sickness in a matter of days. Most of the greenhouse effect is due to the water vapor that accumulates in the lower half of the atmosphere. Without this layer, the greenhouse effect would be much weaker, and the oceans would even freeze. Although the greenhouse effect has been widely talked about as a negative thing lately, it is a process that planet Earth requires to allow life as we know it.
One of the great problems that we have today derived from human activity is the contamination of the troposphere. The smog that forms during human daily activities and around cities It is the most obvious form of air pollution. There are different types of pollution, both visible and invisible. However, all types of air pollution contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Any substance released into the atmosphere by humans that has harmful effects on living beings and the environment is considered a pollutant.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the troposphere and its main characteristics.
Very interesting.