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The tropopause is the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere, the two lowest regions of Earth's atmosphere. It is characterized by a region of nearly constant temperature, marking the end of the troposphere's temperature decrease with height.1234

The altitude of the tropopause varies, being higher in the tropics (around 18 km or 11 miles) due to vigorous mixing by thunderstorms, and lower in polar regions (around 8 km or 5 miles) where atmospheric turbulence is less frequent. Temperatures at the tropopause can range from -80°C (-112°F) in the tropics to -50°C (-58°F) in polar areas. The troposphere, below the tropopause, contains most of Earth's clouds and weather systems.41

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