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atmospheric structure
atmospheric structure The broadly horizontal layering of the atmosphere, the layers being distinguished by differences in the rate of change of temperature with height, which either favour or discourage the development of vertical exchanges (convection). From the surface of the Earth upwards the layers are: (a) the troposphere, in which convection is often prominent, especially over warm regions, extending to the tropopause at a somewhat variable height, generally about 11 km over middle and higher latitudes and 17 km near the equator; (b) the stratosphere, in which there is much less vertical motion, and which extends from the tropopause to about 50 km at the stratopause; (c) the mesosphere, in which there is once again more convection, extending from the stratopause to a height of about 80 km at the mesopause; and (d) the thermosphere, extending from the mesopause to the effective limit of the atmosphere, at about 200 km.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-atmosphericstructure.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-atmosphericstructure.html |
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atmospheric structure
atmospheric structure The broadly horizontal layering of the atmosphere, the layers being distinguished by differences in the rate of change of temperature with height, which either favour or discourage the development of vertical exchanges (convection). From the surface of the Earth upwards the layers are: (a)the troposphere, in which convection is often prominent, especially over warm regions, extending to the tropopause at a somewhat variable height, generally about 11 km over middle and higher latitudes and 17 km near the equator;(b)the stratosphere, in which there is much less vertical motion, and which extends from the tropopause to about 50 km at the stratopause;(c)the mesosphere, in which there is once again more convection, extending from the stratopause to a height of about 80 km at the mesopause; and(d)the thermosphere, extending from the mesopause to the effective limit of the atmosphere, at about 200 km.
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Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-atmosphericstructure.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "atmospheric structure." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-atmosphericstructure.html |
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