Why temperature at tropopause is less at equator?

The height of tropopause is lower at the poles than at the equator. The rising air over equator loses more heat(as density decreases with height, air expands, looses energy and cools down) as it ascends about 18km from the surface.

Why is the tropopause lower at the poles?

The concentration of air decreases from equator towards the poles. Also, the the temperatures are high in lower latitudes(Tropical areas) so the convectional rising of air is high in these regions. Both these factors result in greater height of Tropopause at the equator which reduces towards the poles.

Why is temperature constant at tropopause?

The tropopause minimum acts as a barrier^ between the troposphere and stratosphere because mixing and heat transport by convection can only occur when temperature decreases with height. The troposphere – with convection allowed – is turbulent and well mixed. the more energetic the motion, the higher the temperature.

How is that the lowest temperature at the tropopause are vertically over the equator rather than over the poles?

Since temperature decreases upwards in troposphere at the rate of 1°C for every 165 m of height, it is natural that temperature at the height of 17 km over the equator (–80°C) becomes much lower that at the height of 9-10 km over the poles (–45°C).

What is the temperature at the tropopause?

Heat is produced in the process of the formation of Ozone and this heat is responsible for temperature increases from an average -60°F (-51°C) at tropopause to a maximum of about 5°F (-15°C) at the top of the stratosphere. This increase in temperature with height means warmer air is located above cooler air.

Why is the North Pole warmer than the South Pole?

The North Pole is much warmer than the South Pole. This is because sits at a lower elevation (sea level) and is located in the middle of an ocean, which is warmer than the ice-covered continent of Antarctica. From the North Pole, the sun is always above the horizon in the summer and below the horizon in the winter.

What is the temperature at tropopause?

Why does the tropopause height decrease with increasing latitude?

This site says that the tropopause is at a higher altitude at the equator because: Gravitational force from a point is higher closer to it and reduces with increasing distance from it. Because the Earth itself is broader at equator, the equator experiences less gravity allowing air to reach bigger heights.

What happens to the temperature at the tropopause?

As the density of the gases in this layer decrease with height, the air becomes thinner. Therefore, the temperature in the troposphere also decreases with height in response. As one climbs higher, the temperature drops from an average around 62°F (17°C) to -60°F (-51°C) at the tropopause.

What is the purpose of a tropopause?

The tropopause is the boundary that demarcates the troposphere from the stratosphere, and is the part of the atmosphere where there occurs an abrupt change in the environmental lapse rate (ELR), from a positive rate in the troposphere to a negative rate in the stratosphere.

Why is the height of tropopause lower at the Poles?

The height of tropopause is lower at the poles than at the equator. The rising air over equator loses more heat (as density decreases with height, air expands, looses energy and cools down) as it ascends about 18km from the surface.

What is the temperature in the troposphere at the Poles?

Therefore, the temperature in the troposphere also decreases with height. As you climb higher, the temperature drops from about 62°F (17°C) to -60°F (-51°C). Almost all weather occurs in this region. The height of the troposphere varies from the equator to the poles.

Why is it colder at the equator than at the Poles?

The speed of angular momentum of the earth is greatest at the equator than at the poles, Coriolus force, hence the earth’s moisture is greatest there as is the height of the tropopause. The higher this is the colder it is. So paradoxically it is colder at a height of 20km at the equator than the 6km or so at the poles.

Why is the troposphere twice as high over the equator?

Moist air has a lower lapse rate, which explains why the troposphere is highest over warm equatorial Pacific and why it peaks over monsoons. – see this article. It’s the surface temperature and water vapor. That’s the gist of it. The rotation of the Earth can’t account for a troposphere that’s twice as high over the equator.