Friday, November 06, 2009

THE STRATOSPHERE


The stratosphere and stratosphere [1] is the atmospheric layer that sits between the troposphere and mesosphere, extending from about 11 to about 50 km from the surface. The temperature increases gradually from -55 ° C until reaching the tropopause 0 º C to stratopause, although some authors can reach 17 º C or more [1]. That is, in this layer the temperature increases with altitude, contrary to what occurs in the upper and lower layers. This is mainly due to the absorption of ozone molecules absorb electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet region. In the lower stratosphere the temperature is relatively stable, and in whole layer is very low humidity. The stratosphere is a region where different processes occurring radioactive and chemical dynamic. The horizontal mixing of gaseous components occurs much more rapidly than vertical mixing. At a height of approximately 2.5 times the height of Everest and 50 times the Empire State Building in New York only a few planes like the Russian MiG-31 can fly. Near the end of the stratosphere is the ozone layer that absorbs most ultraviolet rays from the sun

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