TROPOPAUSE Meaning and
Definition
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The tropopause is the boundary layer in the Earth's atmosphere that separates the troposphere from the stratosphere. It is defined as the uppermost layer of the troposphere, typically found at an altitude of approximately 10 to 18 kilometers (6 to 11 miles) above the Earth's surface, depending on geographic location and seasonal variations.
Characterized by a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude, the tropopause represents a significant transition in the atmosphere. It is where the convective processes typical of the troposphere come to an end, and the stable, horizontally stratified conditions characteristic of the stratosphere begin. As such, it acts as a barrier that prevents vertical mixing between the two layers.
The tropopause is marked by a distinct temperature inversion, where the temperature starts to increase instead of continuing to decrease with altitude. This occurs due to the presence of the stratospheric ozone layer which absorbs incoming ultraviolet radiation and causes a temperature rise in the upper stratosphere.
The tropopause also exhibits structural changes due to environmental factors and atmospheric phenomena such as jet streams, which can result in undulations and changes in its altitude. These variations can have important implications for weather patterns and the transport of pollutants and greenhouse gases between the troposphere and stratosphere.
Understanding the tropopause is crucial for meteorologists, climatologists, and atmospheric scientists as it plays a crucial role in the dynamics and chemical composition of the Earth's atmosphere.
Common Misspellings for TROPOPAUSE
- rropopause
- fropopause
- gropopause
- yropopause
- 6ropopause
- 5ropopause
- teopopause
- tdopopause
- tfopopause
- ttopopause
- t5opopause
- t4opopause
- tripopause
- trkpopause
- trlpopause
- trppopause
- tr0popause
- tr9popause
- trooopause
- tropoppause
- troppause
- Trupopause
- Tropapause
Etymology of TROPOPAUSE
The word "tropopause" is derived from two Greek words: "tropos" meaning "turn" or "change", and "pausis" meaning "cessation" or "pause". The term was coined by British meteorologist George Howard Darwin in 1894, combining these elements to describe the boundary between two atmospheric layers with different characteristics. The tropopause marks the transition between the troposphere (lower region of the atmosphere with most weather phenomena) and the stratosphere (upper region with stable temperatures).
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