troposphere

[trop-uh-sfeer, troh-puh-] /ˈtrɒp əˌsfɪər, ˈtroʊ pə-/

noun, Meteorology

the lowest layer of the atmosphere, 6 miles (10 km) high in some areas and as much as 12 miles (20 km) high in others, within which there is a steady drop in temperature with increasing altitude and within which nearly all cloud formations occur and weather conditions manifest themselves.

Origin

1905-10; tropo- + sphere

Related forms

tropospheric

[trop-uh-sfer-ik, -sfeer-, troh-puh-] /ˌtrɒp əˈsfɛr ɪk, -ˈsfɪər-, ˌtroʊ pə-/ (Show IPA), adjective

Examples from the web for troposphere

Thank you troposphere for so vividly reminding us how much disdain is still out there against the ideal of equality.
All agreed that the troposphere should be getting warmer.
If he does become a star, he may finally be able to get the backing to blast into the troposphere.
The troposphere warms, the stratosphere cools, which is what you would expect from an enhanced greenhouse effect.
The troposphere is warming while the stratosphere is cooling.
The signature of global warming is missing in the lower troposphere.
Therefore, global warming in the troposphere and stratospheric cooling due to ozone loss are parallel effects.
The stratosphere cooling while the troposphere warms.
The stratosphere cooling while the troposphere warms c.
The stratosphere sits on top of the troposphere, the lowest, densest layer of the atmosphere.

British Dictionary definitions for troposphere

troposphere

/ˈtrɒpəˌsfɪə/

noun

the lowest atmospheric layer, about 18 kilometres (11 miles) thick at the equator to about 6 km (4 miles) at the Poles, in which air temperature decreases normally with height at about 6.5°C per km

Derived Forms

tropospheric (ˌtrɒpəˈsfɛrɪk) adjective

Word Origin and History for troposphere

1914, from French troposphère, literally "sphere of change," coined by French meteorologist Philippe Teisserenc de Bort (1855-1913) from Greek tropos "a turn, change" (see trope) + sphaira "sphere" (see sphere).

troposphere in Science

troposphere

(trō'pə-sfîr', trŏp'ə-)
The lowest and densest region of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface to the tropopause. The troposphere is characterized by temperatures that decrease with increasing altitude. At the top of this region, temperatures are close to -55°C (-67°F). The weather, major wind systems, and cloud formations occur mostly in the troposphere. See also exosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere., See illustration at atmosphere.

troposphere in Culture

troposphere [(troh-puh-sfeer, trop-uh-sfeer)]

The lowest layer of the atmosphere of the Earth, extending from ground level to an altitude of seven to ten miles.