Sally has sent up a weather balloon and is monitoring the data it is sending back. Currently, it is measuring the temperature as -45°C and 100% relative humidity. Sally suspects it is currently traveling through a cloud that is producing rain. Which level of the atmosphere is Sally’s weather balloon currently in?

1 answer

Sally's weather balloon is likely in the troposphere. The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) high, depending on the geographic location and weather conditions. It is characterized by a decrease in temperature with altitude and is the layer where most weather phenomena, including clouds and precipitation, occur. The low temperature of -45°C, combined with 100% relative humidity, suggests that the balloon is within a cloud system, which is typical for the troposphere.