tropopauss

The tropopause is the atmospheric boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. It is a region of transition where the temperature, which decreases with altitude in the troposphere, begins to remain constant or increase with altitude in the stratosphere. This temperature inversion marks the upper limit of the weather-producing layer of the atmosphere. The height of the tropopause varies depending on latitude and season, being generally higher at the equator and lower at the poles, and also higher in summer than in winter. In the troposphere, convection is a dominant process, leading to the mixing of air and the formation of clouds and precipitation. Above the tropopause, in the stratosphere, the air is much more stable and dry, and convection is significantly suppressed. This stability is largely due to the presence of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun and causes the temperature to increase with altitude. The tropopause acts as a sort of lid, limiting the vertical extent of weather phenomena. It is a crucial layer for understanding atmospheric circulation patterns and the transport of gases and aerosols between the troposphere and the stratosphere.