stratospheric

Stratospheric is an adjective relating to the stratosphere, the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, lying above the troposphere. The stratosphere extends roughly from about 10–15 kilometers (6–9 miles) at the tropopause up to about 50 kilometers (31 miles). Temperatures in the stratosphere increase with altitude due to ozone absorption of ultraviolet radiation, a contrast with the troposphere where temperature generally decreases with height. The region contains the ozone layer, concentrated roughly between 15 and 35 kilometers, which absorbs most of the Sun's harmful UV radiation.

Apart from ozone, the stratosphere contains relatively low humidity and low air density. Its stable stratification limits vertical mixing, resulting in relatively stable air and less weather than the troposphere. Wind patterns in the stratosphere can include persistent jet streams and winds that blow mainly from west to east, with variations by latitude and season. The layer is characterized by limited vertical convection, which helps preserve chemical composition and affects the transport of atmospheric constituents.

Humans have affected the stratosphere, notably through ozone-depleting substances that caused thinning of the ozone layer. The most well-known manifestation is the Antarctic ozone hole, which emerges during Southern Hemisphere spring and influences UV levels globally, guiding environmental policy and atmospheric research.

In everyday language, stratospheric is also used metaphorically to describe something exceptionally high or ambitious, emphasizing great extent or scale. Stratospheric research uses balloons, high-altitude aircraft, and satellites to study ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and atmospheric chemistry, contributing to climate science and environmental protection.