Weather and climate change primarily occur in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere. This layer extends from the Earth's surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) in altitude, depending on the location (higher in the tropics and lower at the poles). The troposphere contains the majority of the atmosphere's mass and is where most weather phenomena, including clouds, rain, and storms, take place. Climate change, which involves long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions, also reflects processes that occur in the troposphere.
Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere does weather and climate change occur?
3 answers
No, weather and climate change do not primarily occur in the mesosphere. The mesosphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, extending approximately from 50 to 85 kilometers (about 31 to 53 miles) above the Earth's surface. While some phenomena occur in the mesosphere, such as the dissipation of meteors, it is too high for most weather events.
Weather and climate change are primarily associated with the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere where most weather occurs. This is the layer where temperature, humidity, wind, and other atmospheric conditions interact to create weather systems. The effects of climate change, such as changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, also manifest within this layer.