Typical mid-latitude temperature profile
The atmosphere can be divided into several distinct
layers, as shown in the diagram. Most of the work in the Met
Office is concerned with the troposphere, the part of
the atmosphere where weather systems occur. The troposphere extends
from the Earth's surface to the tropopause (about 10-16
km in altitude, depending on latitude), and is generally characterised
by temperatures which decrease with height. The stratosphere extends
from the tropopause to the stratopause, at about 50 km,
and is characterised by a high static stability associated with
an overall increase of temperature with height. One important
feature of the stratosphere is the ozone layer, which protects
the Earth by absorbing much of the ultraviolet radiation from
the Sun. The mesosphere extends from the stratopause to
about 90 km; together the stratosphere and mesosphere make up
the middle atmosphere.
| Stratospheric modelling
and analysis |
The Middle Atmosphere group, part of NWP, carries out research
and development work to improve the analysis of stratospheric
observations and the simulation of stratospheric dynamics by
numerical models, with the ultimate aim of improving weather
forecasting.
More
about stratospheric analysis
More
about stratospheric modelling
The ozone layer lies within the stratosphere and it is important
because it protects the Earth from much of the Sun's ultraviolet
radiation. There is much concern that the concentration of ozone
is being depleted, resulting in more harmful radiation reaching
the Earth's surface. Ozone measurements over the UK are routinely
made at Lerwick in the Shetland Islands and Camborne in Cornwall.
More
about ozone
|
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