Stratopause
The stratopause (formerly mesopeak) is the level of the atmosphere which is the boundary between two layers: the stratosphere and the mesosphere. In the stratosphere, the temperature increases with altitude, and the stratopause is the region where a maximum in the temperature occurs. This atmospheric feature is not exclusive to Earth, but also occurs on any other planet or moon with an atmosphere.[1] According to James Kasting, planets whose atmospheres do not absorb shortwave sunlight, such as Venus and Mars, do not have a stratosphere and thus have no stratopause.[2]
On Earth, the stratopause is about 50 km (31 mi) above sea level.[3] The atmospheric pressure is around 1⁄1000 of the pressure at sea level.[4] The temperature in the stratopause is −2.5 °C (27.5 °F).[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "What is the Stratopause". Actforlibraries.org. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
- ↑ Catling, David C.; Kasting, James F. (2017). Atmospheric Evolution on Inhabited and Lifeless Worlds.
- ↑ Andrews, David G. (2000). An Introduction to Atmospheric Physics. International geophysics series. Vol. 25. Cambridge University Press. p. 9. ISBN 9780521629584.
- ↑ Schmunk, Robert B. (April 3, 2025). "Introduction to Clouds". NASA. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
- ↑ "stratopause | meteorology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-05-22.
External links
[edit]- "stratopause | meteorology". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-05-22.