Vertical Structure of the Atmosphere

Discussion Questions

• Why are the four major layers of the atmosphere separated where they are?
• What increases the temperature in the stratosphere?
• Can planes fly in the mesosphere? Why or why not?
• On what does the temperature in the thermosphere depend?

Answers:

• Because it depends on their characteristics and their temperature.
• Ozone absorbs more ultraviolet radiation than does air in the troposphere. As a result, the stratosphere is heated, and air gradually increases in temperature to the top of the layer, called the stratopause.
• No; for two reasons:

         - There is insufficient oxygen present for an aircraft engine to work.
         - The atmospheric pressure is too low for an aircraft wing to obtain lift.

• It depends on air/ atmospheric pressure.