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Why does temperature rise with altitude in the stratosphere?
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Atmosphere
The atmospheres of planets in the solar system are composed of various gases, particulates, and liquids. They are also dynamic places that redistribute heat and other forms of energy. On Earth, the atmosphere provides critical ingredients for living things. Here, feathery cirrus clouds drift across the deep blue sky over Pinawa Dam Provincial Park, near Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada.
In the stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude primarily due to the presence of the ozone layer.12
This warming effect is caused by the absorption of solar radiation by ozone molecules (). Specifically, high-energy ultraviolet radiation in the wavelength range of 0.200 to 0.242 micrometres causes the photodissociation of diatomic oxygen (). The resulting single oxygen atoms then bond with intact molecules to form ozone, a process that releases heat into the surrounding atmosphere.13
This temperature inversion creates strong thermodynamic stability within the stratosphere, which inhibits vertical mixing and results in very little turbulence.3