Geography

Lecture 13: Composition and Structure of

Atmosphere (Part 02)
Stratosphere
● It lies above the troposphere and extends
uniformly across the globe up to 50km.
● The temperature in this layer remains constant
for some distance but then rises to reach a level
of 0°C at 50 km altitude.
● This rise is due to the presence of ozone
(harmful and highly energetic ultraviolet
radiation is absorbed by ozone).
● This layer is almost free from clouds and
associated weather phenomenon, making conditions most ideal for flying airplanes. So
airplanes fly in the lower stratosphere, sometimes in the upper troposphere where the
weather is calm.
● Sometimes, few (cirrus) clouds are present at lower levels in this layer.

Mesosphere
● The mesosphere extends from 50 to 80 km above the Earth's surface.
● Since ozone is not present in this layer, there is no heating, and as a result, the
temperature decreases with an increase in altitude.
● The temperature in the mesosphere decreases and reaches its minimum mark, averaging
-90°C, although this temperature can vary.
● The mesosphere is the coldest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
● Meteorites burn up in this layer because it provides friction to meteorites.
● The homogeneous layer extends up to the mesosphere.
● The amount of gasses in the mesosphere is lower compared to other layers of the
atmosphere.

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 ● At the upper boundary of the mesosphere, there exists a layer of ions that extends into
the next layer.
● This layer of ions, or charged particles, is helpful in reflecting radio waves and aids in
telecommunication.

Thermosphere
● In the thermosphere, temperature rises very rapidly with increasing height.
● The ionosphere is part of this layer, extending between 80 and 400 km above the Earth's
surface.
● The presence of ions in this layer and collisions between these ions increase the
temperature.
● This layer aids in radio transmission, as radio waves transmitted from the Earth are
reflected back by the ionosphere.
● The thermosphere is characterized by auroras, known as the northern lights (Aurora
Borealis) and the southern lights (Aurora Australis).
● Despite the high temperatures, a person would not feel warm due to the thermosphere's
extremely low pressure.
● The International Space Station and satellites orbit in this layer. Although the temperature
is high, the atmosphere is extremely rarefied, with gas molecules spaced hundreds of
kilometers apart, so a person or an object in this layer doesn't feel the heat.

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Ionosphere
● This layer is located between 80 km and 400 km and is an electrically charged layer.
● It lies from the upper mesosphere to the thermosphere.
● The charged particles are ionized by absorption of cosmic rays, gamma rays, X-rays
and shorter wavelengths of ultraviolet rays.
● It is in this layer that incoming space vehicles and meteorites begin to heat due to
friction.
● Temperature again starts increasing with height because of radiation from the sun.

Exosphere
● This is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere extending beyond the ionosphere above a
height of about 400 km.
● The air is extremely rarefied and the temperature gradually increases through the layer.
● Light gasses like helium and hydrogen float into space from here.
● Temperature gradually increases through the layer. (As it is exposed to direct sunlight)
● This layer coincides with space.

Insolation
● Insolation is the amount of solar radiation that is received by a planet. The energy
received by the earth's surface in the form of short waves is termed as Incoming Solar
Radiation or Insolation.
● The insolation is not constant over the surface of the Earth - it is concentrated near the
equator because of the curvature of the Earth.
● Some of the insolation is reflected off the atmosphere back out into space, where it is lost,
The remaining insolation may pass through the atmosphere, where it can be transformed
either before or after reaching _ Earth's surface.
● This reception of solar energy and the resulting energy cascade that ultimately warms
Earth's surface and the atmosphere.

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 Solar Constant:
● The solar constant is the amount of solar radiation received per unit area at the outer
edge of Earth's atmosphere when the Earth is at its average distance from the Sun.
● The solar constant includes all types of solar radiation, not just visible light.

Factors affecting the Distribution of Insolation

The following are the factors that cause these variations:
● Primary factor:
○ The angle of inclination of the rays of the sun
○ Distance From the Sun
○ Duration of Day and Night
○ Rotation and Revolution
● Secondary factors:
○ Effects of Atmosphere- Reflection (Albedo)
○ Transparency of atmosphere
○ Topography

Angle of Sunlight
● The angle of sunlight affects insolation, or the amount of solar energy received at
Earth's surface.
● Regions near the equator receive direct sunlight, leading to higher insolation.
● Areas near the poles receive oblique rays, which spread the solar energy over a larger area
and result in lower insolation.
● The distance traveled by sunlight through the atmosphere is shorter near the equator,
reducing atmospheric scattering and absorption.
● Conversely, sunlight travels through a greater thickness of the atmosphere at higher
latitudes, increasing scattering and absorption.

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Rotation and Revolution
● Rotation of Earth:
○ The rotation of the Earth refers to its movement around its axis.
○ Earth rotates from west to east, completing one full rotation approximately every
24 hours.
○ The rotation of the Earth is responsible for the occurrence of day and night.
○ The circle that separates day from night on the globe is known as the circle of
illumination.
○ Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of 23.5° relative to its orbital plane, which is the
plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
● Revolution of Earth:
○ The revolution of the Earth refers to its movement around the Sun in a fixed orbit.
○ Earth takes about 365¼ days, or one year, to complete one orbit around the Sun.
○ During the summer solstice, around June 21st, the Sun's rays directly fall on
the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
○ During the winter solstice, around December 22nd, the Sun’s rays directly fall
on the Tropic of Capricorn, resulting in summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
○ On March 21st, during the vernal equinox, the Sun’s rays directly hit the
equator, leading to nearly equal day and night lengths worldwide.

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○ The apparent movement of the Sun, caused by Earth’s rotation and revolution,
affects the changing seasons and the distribution of insolation throughout the year.

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