GEOG 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Lapse Rate, Hydrosphere, Stevenson Screen
Document Summary
Temperature decreases with increase in altitude (lapse rate) Air is turbulent due to mixing of air. There is a zone of transition between troposphere and stratosphere called tropopause: stratosphere/ozonosphere. Lower isothermal layer in which temperature is constant. Upper layer of temperature inversion in which temperature increases with increasing altitude. Has ozone layer which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation. Air is calm so its used by passenger jets. There is a zone of transition between stratosphere and mesosphere called stratopause: mesosphere. There is a zone of transition between mesosphere and thermosphere called mesopause which is an inversion layer: thermosphere/ionosphere. Gases and molecules in this layer exist as ions due to high radiation. Has no definite top but merges gradually into the outermost part of the atmosphere called exosphere. Exosphere consists of rare gases like hydrogen and helium. Beyond the atmosphere there is the outer space. Outer space is the universe beyond the atmosphere in which other planets and stars exist.
