Mesosphere & Thermosphere

The mesosphere (/ˈmɛsoʊsfɪər/; from Greek mesos "middle" and sphaira "balls") is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is directly above the stratosphere and directly below the mesopause. In the mesosphere, temperature decreases as the altitude increases. The upper boundary of the mesosphere is the mesopause, which can be the coldest naturally occurring place on Earth with temperatures...

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Stratosphere & Troposphere

The stratosphere (/ˈstrætəˌsfɪər, -toʊ-) is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. About 20% of the atmosphere's mass is contained in the stratosphere. The stratosphere is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher and cooler layers closer to the Earth. The increase of temperature with altitude, is a result of the absorption of the Sun's...

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What is tropospheric ozone?

Ozone (O3) is a constituent of the troposphere (it is also an important constituent of some regions of the stratosphere commonly known as the ozone layer). The troposphere extends from the Earth's surface to between 12 and 20 kilometers above sea level and consists of many layers. Ozone is more concentrated above the mixing layer, or ground layer. Ground-level ozone, though less concentrated ozone aloft,...

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What is sunlight?

Sunlight is a portion of the electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun, in particular infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through Earth's atmosphere,and is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon. When the direct solar radiation is not blocked by clouds, it is experienced as sunshine, a combination of bright light and radiant heat. When it is blocked by the clouds or reflects...

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What is solar radiation?

What is solar radiation? Bad thoughts usually come to mind when you think of the word 'radiation.' But solar radiation is actually a very beneficial thing-it's sunlight! Every living thing on Earth depends on sunlight for survival. It warms the planet, provides food for plants, and in general, just makes us feel pretty darn good. I don't know about you, but I think being outside on a sunny day soaking up all that energy is a really nice feeling! Solar...

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Effects of global warming

The effects of global warming are the environmental and social changes caused (directly or indirectly) by human emissions of greenhouse gases. There is a scientific consensus that climate change is occurring, and that human activities are the primary driver. Many impacts of climate change have already been observed, including glacier retreat, changes in the timing of seasonal events (e.g., earlier flowering of plants), and changes...

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Ozone depletion

Ozone depletion describes two distinct but relate phenomena observed since the late 1970s: a steday decline of about four percent in the total amount of ozone in Earth's stratosphere  (the ozone layer), and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone around Earth's polar regions. The latter phenomenon is referred to as the ozone hole. In addition to these well-known stratospheric phenomena, there are also springtime...

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