Stratospheric Cooling: Why is it Cooler Than the Ground?

[Wannabeagenius]

Hi All,

Would someone explain why the stratosphere is cooler than the ground?

Thank you,
Bob

 

[rgatess]

Statospheric cooling, when taking the increasing CO2 amounts into account, is occurring because of the effects of CO2 as a greenhouse gas in the troposphere. CO2 slows down the rate at which longwave radiation can escape from the troposphere to the stratosphere, with the net effect being that the troposphere warms while the stratosphere cools.

 

[Wannabeagenius]

Statospheric cooling, when taking the increasing CO2 amounts into account, is occurring because of the effects of CO2 as a greenhouse gas in the troposphere. CO2 slows down the rate at which longwave radiation can escape from the troposphere to the stratosphere, with the net effect being that the troposphere warms while the stratosphere cools.

This makes sense. Thank you.

Is it fair to say that should no more CO2 enter the atmosphere, the troposphere would continue to heat up until the energy leaving the troposphere is the same as the energy entering it. At that point, the stratosphere will no longer be cooler than it was but will be at its original temperature?

Bob

 

[Evo]

GW is a closed topic due to the flame wars which arise.

 

[Wannabeagenius]

GW is a closed topic due to the flame wars which arise.

Is it allowed on any of these forums?

 

[Evo]

Is it allowed on any of these forums?

No, it's not. Questions about the atmosphere and how it works that stay out of GW discussions are fine.

 

[D H]

Is it fair to say that should no more CO2 enter the atmosphere, the troposphere would continue to heat up until the energy leaving the troposphere is the same as the energy entering it. At that point, the stratosphere will no longer be cooler than it was but will be at its original temperature?

What original temperature?

The bottom of the stratosphere / top of the troposphere is inevitably going to be cooler than the surface because of thermodynamics. Temperature tends to decrease with increasing altitude in the troposphere because the lower atmosphere is for the most part either transparent to incoming sunlight or reflects it back into space. The top of the stratosphere is warmer than the bottom because sunlight heats the stratosphere thanks to the ozone layer absorbing the UV portion of incoming sunlight. There is a temperature inversion at the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere.

Note that this has nothing to do with global warming; let's steer clear of that topic.