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Weather and Climate

Structure of the atmosphere

  • 3 things to know
  • Component 3 Section B

Overview

Approximate depth of the troposphere, average environmental lapse rate and temperature profile of the mesosphere.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Name the four main layers of the atmosphere in order from the surface upwards.

Key term

What is the approximate depth of the troposphere?

Key term

Why does temperature fall with height through the troposphere?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Name the four main layers of the atmosphere in order from the surface upwards.

    Model answer

    The four layers are the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere and the thermosphere. Each is separated from the next by a pause.

  2. 2

    What is the approximate depth of the troposphere?

    Model answer

    The troposphere extends to about 12 km on average. The layer reaches roughly 16 km over the equator and about 8 km over the poles.

  3. 3

    Why does temperature fall with height through the troposphere?

    Model answer

    The troposphere is heated from below by longwave radiation from the Earth's surface. Air further from that source is therefore colder.

  4. 4

    State the average environmental lapse rate.

    Model answer

    The average environmental lapse rate is about 6.5 °C per kilometre of ascent.

  5. 5

    Why does almost all weather occur in the troposphere?

    Model answer

    The troposphere holds nearly all the atmosphere's water vapour and most of its mass. Convection in the layer lifts that moisture to form cloud and precipitation.

  6. 6

    What is the tropopause?

    Model answer

    The tropopause is the boundary at the top of the troposphere where the fall in temperature with height stops. The boundary caps convection and traps weather below it.

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