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