"The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere of Earth, located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere."
The chemistry of the Earth's stratosphere, including the ozone layer, ultraviolet radiation, and other important atmospheric processes.
The Atmosphere: The study of the Earth's atmospheric composition, structure, and function, including its layers and unique properties.
Air Pollution: The presence of harmful substances in the air that affect human health, ecosystems, and the climate.
Ozone Depletion: The ongoing process of the shrinking of the protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, leading to increased UV radiation on Earth's surface.
Greenhouse Gases: The group of atmospheric gases that trap heat and cause global warming, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Chemistry and Physics of the Stratosphere: The study of the chemistry and physical processes that occur in the stratosphere, including reaction mechanisms, photochemistry, and stratospheric dynamics.
Stratospheric Aerosols: The particles in the stratosphere that can have both cooling and warming effects on the climate, depending on their size, shape, and composition.
Remote Sensing and Observational Techniques: The use of satellites, ground-based instruments, and other methods to collect data and study atmospheric phenomena.
Climate Modeling: The creation and use of computer models to predict, explain, and simulate the Earth's climate system.
Global Circulation: The pattern of large-scale atmospheric and oceanic movements that drive weather, climate, and ocean currents around the world.
Solar Radiation and its Effects: The study of solar activity and the ways in which it interacts with the Earth's atmosphere, including solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and cosmic rays.
Ozone depletion: This type of stratospheric chemistry is responsible for harmful depletion of the ozone layer, which can lead to increased skin cancer risk, cause crop and plant damage, and affect global climate.
Stratospheric cooling: The stratosphere is responsible for regulating the temperature of the planet, and certain chemicals such as greenhouse gases can cause cooling in this layer, affecting the overall climate.
Photochemistry: The interaction between sunlight and atmospheric gases can lead to the formation of different compounds, including ones that can affect air quality and climate.
Air pollution: Polluted air can affect atmospheric chemistry, leading to the formation of different ozone precursors and other pollutants that can affect human and animal health.
Biogeochemical cycling: This type of atmospheric chemistry is related to the transfer of nutrients and other chemicals between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere, which can have significant implications for global ecosystems and food production.
Aerosol formation: Aerosols are tiny particles in the atmosphere that can affect air quality, visibility, and climate, and can be formed through a variety of atmospheric chemistry pathways.
Natural sources of atmospheric chemistry: A number of natural sources, including volcanoes and forest fires, can release chemicals into the atmosphere that affect stratospheric chemistry and climate.
"The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer composed of stratified temperature layers."
"The warm layers of air are high in the sky, and the cool layers of air are in the low sky, close to the planetary surface of the Earth."
"The increase of temperature with altitude is a result of the absorption of the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the ozone layer."
"In contrast to the stratosphere, near the Earth's surface in the troposphere, the temperature decreases with altitude."
"The tropopause is the border that demarcates the beginning of the temperature inversion between the troposphere and stratosphere."
"Near the equator: 20 km (66,000 ft; 12 mi). Midlatitudes: around 10 km (33,000 ft; 6.2 mi). Poles: about 7 km (23,000 ft; 4.3 mi)."
"Temperatures range from an average of −51 °C (−60 °F; 220 K) near the tropopause to an average of −15 °C (5.0 °F; 260 K) near the mesosphere."
"Stratospheric temperatures also vary within the stratosphere as the seasons change."
"Stratospheric temperatures reach particularly low temperatures in the polar night (winter)."
"Winds in the stratosphere can far exceed those in the troposphere, reaching near 60 m/s (220 km/h; 130 mph) in the Southern polar vortex."
"The mesosphere is above the stratosphere."
"The stratosphere absorbs the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the ozone layer."
"In the troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude, while in the stratosphere, the temperature increases with altitude."
"The tropopause marks the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere."
"The average temperature near the tropopause is around −51 °C (−60 °F; 220 K)."
"The average temperature near the mesosphere is around −15 °C (5.0 °F; 260 K)."
"Stratospheric temperatures reach their lowest levels during the polar night, which is winter."
"The highest wind speeds in the stratosphere are found in the Southern polar vortex."
"The ozone layer in the stratosphere plays a crucial role in absorbing the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation."