Answer. Following are characteristics of stratosphere,
Stratosphere lies above the troposphere,
(ii) It extends from 12 km to 50 km,
(iii) In this region temperature increases from -58°C to 20.i.e. there is gradual increases of temperature by 60°C.
(iv) This region is further subdivided into three regions; lower, middle and upper region.
(v) Ozone gas is found in this region which is responsible for the rise of temperature in this region.
(vi) Ozone layer is formed in middle of the stratosphere.
This region is next to troposphere and extends up to 50 kilometers. In this region, temperature rises gradually up to 2 °C. The presence of ozone (due to absorption of radiation) in this region is responsible for the rise of temperature in stratosphere. Within this region, temperature increases as altitude increases, such as lower layer temperature is about -58 °C and upper layer is about 2°C. Thus, stratosphere is layered in temperature as shown in figure.
Altitude (km)
Since ozone in the upper layer absorbs high energy ultraviolet radiations from the Sun, it breaks down into monoatomic arid diatomic oxygen O2 .This phenomenon results in increasing of temperature. The mid stratosphere has less UV light passing through it. Here O and O2 recombine to form ozone which is an exothermic reaction. Thus temperature of mid stratosphere is also higher than low stratosphere. The lower stratosphere receives very low UV radiations. Because of it temperature of this layer is lowest of the above layers.