Custom Search

(/index.php/Main_Page)

(http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/EUROCONTROL)

(http://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/ICAO)

(http://flightsafety.org/)

Tropopause
Article Information

Category: Weather
(/index.php/Category:Weat
her)

Content source: SKYbrary (/index.php/About_SKYbrar

y)

Royal Meteorological
Content control: (/index.php/Royal_Meteoro
Society (RMetS)
logical_Society_(RMetS))

WX

Tag(s) Atmosphere

Definition
The tropopause is the upper limit of the troposphere
(/index.php/Troposphere) and therefore constitutes the boundary
between it and the Stratosphere (/index.php/Stratosphere).

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the "first

tropopause" is conventionally defined as the lowest level at which
the lapse rate decreases to 2°C/km or less, provided also that the
average lapse rate between this level and all higher levels within 2
km does not exceed 2°C/km. If the average lapse rate above this
"first tropopause" between any level and all higher levels within 1 km
exceeds 3°C/km, then a "second tropopause" is defined by the same
criterion as the first. This second tropopause may be either within or
above the 1 km layer.

Near the mid-latitudes there may be two layers of tropopauses: polar

and tropical. For aviation purposes, however, significant weather
charts generally show one tropopause, using the average heights of
the two tropopauses to denote its height in flight level.

Due to the changes in tropopause heights, especially in mid-latitude

polar frontal systems, in certain cases stratospheric air may be
brought into the warm air troposphere as a result of the lower
tropopause height over the cold air and the jetstream associated
with polar frontal system. The airflow effect may “draw”
stratospheric air from above and enter the warm air troposphere by
way of the jet stream.

Description
The tropopause occurs at approximately 20,000 feet over the poles
and at approximately 60,000 feet above the equator. The
International Standard Atmosphere (ISA)
(/index.php/International_Standard_Atmosphere) assumes that the
average height of the tropopause is 36,000 feet.

Due to the tropospheric effect of temperature decrease with height,

in general the temperature at the Tropopause is lower equatorward
and higher poleward.

The location of the tropopause is of interest to flight crew because it

indicates the altitude at which temperature becomes constant with
increasing altitude, which is an import factor in performance and fuel
calculations. It also gives an indication of the location of jet streams
(/index.php/Jet_Stream) and the high winds and turbulence
(/index.php/Turbulence) associated with them. In general, clouds and
weather occur below the tropopause in the troposphere; however,
deep tropical convective systems can break through the tropopause,
especially over land. Overshooting cumulonimbus tops are examples
of such situations.

The turbulence felt as a result of jet streams and other weather

phenomena doesn't necessarily end at the tropopause. Turbulence
can continue well above the tropopause, however the general rule to
climb or descend to avoid turbulence most effectively (as opposed to
horizontally by directional changes) still applies.
 (/index.php/File:Troposphere.jpg)
Troposphere

Jet Streams
Jet Streams (/index.php/Jet_Stream), associated with frontal
weather, where two different air masses meet, occur at or below the
tropopause.

Retrieved from "https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php?

title=Tropopause&oldid=133593
(https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php?
title=Tropopause&oldid=133593)"