ASTR 1210 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Coriolis Force, Northern Hemisphere, Reflectance
Document Summary
Temperature drops with altitude: because ir comes from the surface, more light is absorbed closer to the surface (lower altitudes) Warmed by infrared light from surface, more heating closer to ground: greenhouse gases trap the ir light emitted by the surface and warm the. Calmer layer above the troposphere: international flights, stagnant air because hot air is already on top, no convection. Temperature rises with altitude in lower part, drops with altitude in upper part. Warmed by absorption of uv sunlight, mainly by ozone (o3) X rays from the sun heat and ionize gases: x rays are easily absorbed absorbed by the first gases they encounter in the atmosphere. Density in the exosphere is too low for it to absorb significant amounts of. X rays; virtually none penetrate though the thermosphere: ionized layer = ionosphere . Temperature continues to rise with altitude: atoms can get charged to the point they escape into space.