Troposphere (“overturning” sphere)
§
contains 80% of the mass
§
surface heated by solar radiation
§ strong
vertical motion
§ where
most weather events occur
Stratosphere (“layer” sphere)
§ weak
vertical motions
§
dominated by radiative processes
§ heated
by ozone absorption of solar
ultraviolet (UV) radiation
§
warmest (coldest) temperatures at summer
(winter) pole
Mesosphere
§ heated
by solar radiation at the base
§ heat
dispersed upward by vertical motion
Thermosphere
§ very
little mass