Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.6
Standard atmosphere temperature
pro
le showing the typical change of
temperature with height in the mid-latitudes.
The region of decreasing temperature with
height between 0 and 11 km is referred to as
the troposphere and the layer above with
constant and then increasing temperature with
height is referred to as the stratosphere.
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-100
-80
-60 -40
Temperature (deg C)
-20
0
20
Standard atmosphere
Figure 4.7
Vertical pro
le of ozone
concentration over the South Pole on 28
September 2010 (shown by blue line). The
green line shows the ozone pro
le found before
the formation of the ozone hole. The red line
shows the vertical pro
le of temperature. Notice
that the lowest ozone values occur at heights
with the coldest temperatures. (Credit: NOAA)
South Pole, Antarctica
28 September 2010
Temperature (
C)
-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-50 -40 -30
-20 -10
0
10
20
30
40
50
40
Toral Ozone - 138 DU
Ozone
Temperature
Pre Ozone Hole Profile
35
30
25
20
15
10
NOAA
5
0
0
2
4
6
8 10 12 14 16
Ozone Partial Pressure (millipascals)
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
Generated ESRL/GMD - 2010-September-30 14:46 pm
atmosphere. As a result the warming of the stratosphere, by absorption of UV
solar radiation, decreases as one moves down through the stratosphere, resulting in
cooler temperatures. This change in the amount of UV solar radiation absorbed
by ozone with height in the stratosphere gives the stratosphere its characteristic
increase in temperature with increasing altitude. The absorption of UV radiation by
ozone in the stratosphere is also of great importance for life on Earth, as UV
radiation is quite energetic and can cause damage to living organisms, resulting in
sunburn and, in extreme cases, skin cancer and cataracts.
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