Atmospheric Layers
Learn about Earth's atmospheric structure and where the greenhouse effect occurs
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Thermosphere
85+ km
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Mesosphere
50-85 km
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Stratosphere
12-50 km
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Troposphere
0-12 km
Hot🌡️Cold
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Troposphere
Where weather occurs and most greenhouse gases are concentrated.
Altitude:0-12 km
Temperature:15°C to -60°C
Greenhouse Effect Role:
Primary location of greenhouse gas absorption and heat trapping.
Greenhouse Effect Distribution
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Troposphere: The Active Layer
- •Contains 75% of atmospheric mass
- •Most greenhouse gases concentrated here
- •Where 90% of heat trapping occurs
- •Temperature decreases with altitude
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Upper Atmosphere: Limited Role
- •Stratosphere has ozone layer protection
- •Very few greenhouse gases present
- •Temperature increases with altitude
- •Minimal contribution to greenhouse effect
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The Stratospheric Temperature Inversion
Unlike the troposphere where temperature decreases with altitude, the stratosphere warms with height due to ozone absorbing UV radiation. This creates a temperature inversion that acts as a barrier, trapping heat in the troposphere below.
Troposphere
Surface:15°C
Tropopause:-60°C
Temperature decreases 6.5°C per km
Stratosphere
Tropopause:-60°C
Stratopause:0°C
Temperature increases due to ozone
Key Atmospheric Insights
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Heat Trap
Troposphere traps 90% of greenhouse heat
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Thermal Barrier
Stratosphere acts as temperature lid
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Thin Air
Upper layers too thin for significant warming
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Ozone Heating
UV absorption warms stratosphere
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Surface Focus
Most climate impact in lowest 10km
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Layer Balance
Atmospheric structure enables life