Stratosphere

 

What exactly is the stratosphere?

The stratosphere is an atmospheric layer on Earth. The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere.

The layer is composed of layers

The stratosphere is located above the troposphere and below the mesosphere. "Strat" stands for layer. Our atmosphere's layer has its own set of layers. Because there are no storms or turbulence to mix the air here, cold, heavy air is at the bottom and warm, light air is at the top. That is the inverse of how the layers function in the troposphere, where we live. If you were to climb a mountain in the stratosphere, you would have to remove your warm clothes as you got closer to the top, rather than putting them on as we normally do. However, there are no mountains high enough to reach the stratosphere, so you don't have to be concerned.

This layer has a thickness of 22 miles (35 kilometers). The ozone layer, which is extremely important, is found in the stratosphere. The ozone layer shields us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UV). In fact, the ozone layer absorbs the majority of the UV radiation emitted by the sun. Life as we know it wouldn't be possible without this layer of protection.