HOW IS THE ATMOSPHERE STRUCTURED VERTICALLY

AND WHY?

Surface

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

Surface

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

Surface

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

Surface

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

TROPOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

Surface

Surface

INSOLATIONFull EMR Spectrum

Surface

INSOLATIONFull EMR Spectrum

Oxygen (O2)Nitrogen (N2)

Surface

INSOLATIONX-raysGamma rays

Intercepted by Oxygen andNitrogen

MostInterceptions(Energy)

FewestInterceptions(Energy)

Surface

INSOLATIONX-raysGamma rays

Intercepted by Oxygen andNitrogen

Most (WARM)Interceptions(Energy)

Fewest (COOL)Interceptions(Energy)

Surface

INSOLATIONX-raysGamma rays

Intercepted by Oxygen andNitrogen

WARM

COOL

REVERSEGRADIENT

Surface

INSOLATIONMinus X-rays and Gamma rays

WARM

COOL

REVERSEGRADIENT

Ozone (O3)

O2

O

O1.

1. EMR can slowly break-down all chemical bonds. Here is the stratosphere, oxygen molecules (O2) are broken down into individual oxygen atoms(O) by this process of photo-disassociation.

O2

O2

O

O

O

1.2.

2. Oxygen atoms (O) quickly bond themselves to other oxygen molecules (O2), forming ozone (O3)

1. EMR can slowly break-down all chemical bonds. Here is the stratosphere, oxygen molecules (O2) are broken down into individual oxygen atoms(O) by this process of photo-disassociation.

O3

O2

O2

O2

O3

O

O

O

O

1.2.

3. 3. Ozone molecules (O3)are large enough to intercept ultra-violet wavelengths. Releasing energy to stratosphere and breaking down ozone into an oxygen molecule (O2) and a free oxygen atom(O) .

2. Oxygen atoms (O) quickly bond themselves to other oxygen molecules (O2), forming ozone (O3)

1. EMR can slowly break-down all chemical bonds. Here is the stratosphere, oxygen molecules (O2) are broken down into individual oxygen atoms(O) by this process of photo-disassociation.

O2

O2

O2

O3

O

O

O

O

1.2.

3.4.

4. The freed oxygen atom (O) can then recombine with another free atom (O) to make an oxygen molecule (O2) , or with an oxygen molecule (O2) to make ozone(O3).

3. Ozone molecules (O3)are large enough to intercept ultra-violet wavelengths. Releasing energy to stratosphere and breaking down ozone into an oxygen molecule (O2) and a free oxygen atom(O) .

2. Oxygen atoms (O) quickly bond themselves to other oxygen molecules (O2), forming ozone (O3).

1. EMR can slowly break-down all chemical bonds. Here is the stratosphere, oxygen molecules (O2) are broken down into individual oxygen atoms(O) by this process of photo-disassociation.

Surface

INSOLATIONMinus X-rays and Gamma rays

WARM

COOL

REVERSEGRADIENT

Ultra-violet light collisions with ozones.

Most (WARM)Interceptions(Energy)

Fewest (COOL)Interceptions(Energy)

Surface

INSOLATIONMinus X-rays and Gamma rays

WARM

COOL

REVERSEGRADIENT

Ultra-violet light collisions with ozones.

WARM

COOL

REVERSEGRADIENT

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

TROPOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

Temperature °C100-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90

15

-70

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

TROPOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

100-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90

15

-70

0

Temperature °C

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

TROPOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

100-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90

15

-70

0

-90

Temperature °C

THERMOSPHERE

MESOSPHERE

STRATOSPHERE

TROPOSPHERE

8 miles (10km)

30 miles (50km)

50 miles (80km)

300 miles (500km)?

MESOPAUSE

STRATOPAUSE

TROPOPAUSE

NormalGradient

NormalGradient

ReverseGradient

ReverseGradient

100-10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90

15

-70

0

-90

1000?

Temperature °C