Atmosphere and weathering

• The troposphere is where most of our weather occurs. Incoming solar radiation heats the earth, which in turn heats the air in contact with it. This layer is the most unstable, with the most carbon dioxide, water vapour, dust and pollution than any other layer. The temperature decreases by 6.4*C with every 1000m gained.
• the stratosphere is a layer characterised by a steady increase in temperature. This is caused by the high concentration of ozone gas, which absorbs UV radiation.
• The mesosphere is between the thermosphere and stratosphere. its a layer where temperature decreases rapidly with height due to a lack of dust/water vapour/ pollutants to absorb any incoming radiation. The strongest winds are here.
• The thermosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from about 80 to 100 kilometers above the surface, where temperatures rise rapidly with height due to a high concentration of atomic oxygen absorbing radiation. Friction with solar winds can cause the northern lights in this layer.
• The tropopause is a layer which marks the upper limit of the troposphere, where cooler air from the troposphere is prevented from rising into the stratosphere due to a temperature inversion(where the airs temperature begins to increase where it had previously been cooling, to stop cool air moving into the stratosphere. It’s height varies- its 8km high at the poles but 18km at the equator.
• • Incoming Solar Radiation: shortwave UV insolation is the only energy input. Affected by the amount and type of cloud, the Sun’s angle.
  • Around 5% is scattered by atmosphere
  • 24% reflected into space by atmosphere
  • 23% absorbed by atmospheric gasses.
  • 48% absorbed by Earth’s surface and heats it.
• • Reflected Solar Radiation: proportion of energy that is reflected back to the atmosphere is its albedo. Lighter materials have a higher albedo value and therefore reflect more radiation energy.
  • Planetary albedo: proportion of insolation scattered and returned to space by Earth.