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Temperature and Transport

The temperature of the atmosphere is used to classify its regions. In the troposphere temperatures decrease with height. In the stratosphere temperatures increase with height because of heating by the ozone layer. The tropopause (lower dashed line) divides the stratosphere from the troposphere. The stratopause (upper dashed line) divides the stratosphere from the mesosphere, where temperatures again decrease with height. The middle atmosphere includes the stratosphere and mesosphere.

Atmospheric chemistry is partially controlled by the transport of trace gases and temperature. Air rises into the stratosphere through equatorial thunderstorms and descends at the poles during fall and winter. Thin ice clouds form in the coldest regions of the stratosphere and mesosphere. Plumes from explosive volcanoes can reach stratospheic altitudes.

Temperature and Air Transport map


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Web Curator: Monica Todirita, (Science Systems Applications, Inc) (todirita@umpgal.gsfc.nasa.gov)
Responsible NASA organization/official: Dr. Luke Oman, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory

Last modified: March 08, 2017