Stratosphere

The stratosphere is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere extending immediately above the troposphere, between the tropopause and the stratopause. Unlike the troposphere near the Earth’s surface, temperature in the stratosphere increases with altitude; this structure limits vertical air movements and renders the layer dependent on horizontal currents. The warming caused by ozone molecules absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun forms the primary thermal engine of the stratosphere. The stratosphere plays a decisive role in atmospheric chemistry, climate dynamics, and communication systems.

Discovery and Historical Development

Until the late 19th century, the atmosphere was thought of as a single homogeneous mass. Léon Teisserenc de Bort, through more than 200 balloon soundings conducted between 1898 and 1902, identified a layer above the troposphere where temperature stabilized and then rose again at higher altitudes. In his experiments on 28 April 1902, he named this second layer the “stratosphere.” Around the same time, Richard Assmann’s independent balloon studies confirmed the stratospheric temperature profile. This discovery marked a turning point in understanding the vertical structure of the atmosphere and paved the way for the development of meteorology and atmospheric physics.

Teisserenc de Bort’s findings were first published in Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences and summarized as a “warmer air current at altitudes of 10–15 km.” In the following years, studies based on radiosonde data refined the boundaries of the tropopause and stratopause. During the 20th century, the widespread use of atmospheric sounding instruments enriched stratospheric research quantitatively and enabled more detailed investigation of this layer’s impact on the climate system.

Structural and Chemical Properties

Vertical Temperature and Pressure Profile

The stratosphere lies between the tropopause (~10–17 km) and the stratopause (~50 km). While the average temperature at the tropopause is around –60 °C, it rises to approximately –2 °C near the stratopause. Pressure decreases rapidly with altitude: it is about 100 mbar at the tropopause and drops to ~1 mbar at the stratopause. This inverted temperature gradient promotes horizontal currents and wave propagation in the stratosphere, in contrast to convection in the troposphere.

Radiosonde analyses clearly reveal the thermal structure between the tropopause and stratopause. In the lower stratosphere (~17–25 km), temperature increases more rapidly; the upper stratosphere (~25–50 km) exhibits a more gradual gradient. These structural differences determine how chemical processes and energy transfer operate within the layer.

Chemical Composition

The main gases are nitrogen (~78%) and oxygen (~21%), while water vapor, argon, and trace gases together make up about 1% of the composition. Ozone (O₃) is concentrated in the stratospheric layer between 15 and 35 km and is continuously replenished through photochemical cycles. Ozone concentration is lower in equatorial regions and higher in mid-latitude and polar zones. Human-emitted chlorofluorocarbons break down ozone molecules in the stratosphere, leading to thinning of the ozone layer.

Typical Meteorological Parameters

These values directly influence the stability of the stratosphere and the rates of chemical reactions. The distribution of pressure and temperature determines the role of wave motions in troposphere–stratosphere interactions.

Ozone Layer and Atmospheric Interactions

Protective Role of the Ozone Layer

The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing UV-B (280–315 nm) and UV-C (100–280 nm) radiation. The average column ozone density is 300 Dobson Units (DU), but during “ozone hole” periods over Antarctica, it falls below 220 DU. Geographic and seasonal variations in ozone concentration reflect the nature of stratospheric chemistry and dynamic processes. The latitudinal distribution of stratospheric ozone is shaped by the Brewer-Dobson circulation, which limits ozone production in the tropics while enabling accumulation in polar regions.

Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW)

During winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, tropospheric waves penetrate the stratosphere, triggering sudden stratospheric warming events. During these events, stratospheric temperatures can rise by dozens of degrees within days, disrupting the structure of the polar vortex. SSW events influence surface weather conditions, particularly cold air outbreaks in mid-latitudes.

In 2009, a severe SSW event caused extreme cold waves across Europe. These events alter wind patterns in the stratosphere, inducing abrupt phase shifts in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Arctic Oscillation (AO) indices at the surface.

Stratosphere–Troposphere Interaction

Wave energy generated in the stratosphere propagates downward and influences surface weather systems. Particularly after SSW events, pressure changes at the tropopause and deviations in jet streams can lead to climatic anomalies. This interlayer energy transfer is a critical parameter in climate modeling. Stratospheric waves, especially Rossby and gravity waves, play a major role in transferring energy to the troposphere. During this process, potential vorticity gradients at the tropopause modulate the momentum flux from the stratosphere and influence the direction of surface pressure systems.

Dynamic Processes and Global Circulation

Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO)

In the equatorial stratosphere (~16–35 km), easterly and westerly winds alternate in cycles of 22–34 months. The QBO regulates tropical wave activity and stratosphere–troposphere interactions. This oscillation has indirect effects on global mean temperature distribution and tropical cyclone activity. The influence of the QBO extends beyond the tropics; it modulates the stability of the polar vortex and exerts indirect control over the winter stratosphere. The probability of SSW events increases significantly during the easterly phase of the QBO.

Polar Vortex

A large-scale circulation characterized by strong westerly winds in polar regions during winter. Wind speeds reach 20–60 m/s at pressure levels of 10–50 hPa. The polar vortex is the primary driver of seasonal variations in ozone distribution and SSW events.

Stratospheric Aerosols

Volcanic eruptions or anthropogenic pollutants inject aerosols into the stratosphere, reflecting solar radiation. This causes short-term surface cooling while also affecting stratospheric chemistry. Aerosol particles can enhance ozone destruction and accelerate chemical reaction rates. Sulfate-based aerosols increase the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), thereby boosting the ozone-depleting capacity of chlorine compounds. For example, after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, stratospheric sulfate concentrations rose and global temperatures temporarily decreased by approximately 0.5 °C.