Global Warming and the Altitude of the Tropopause

[W.Davidson]

As greenhouse gases trap outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth's surface, there is less infrared radiation to warm the upper reaches of the atmosphere. This results in the paradoxical situation that, as the lower atmosphere (troposphere) warms, the upper atmosphere (stratosphere) cools. While we have seen an increase in global temperature of around 0.7C on the ground, the temperature in the stratosphere has decreased by 1-2C.

 

The tropopause is the layer in the sky where the troposphere becomes the stratosphere. It is a very real barrier caused by a temperature inversion and prevents air between the two regions from mixing freely. If you look up at high cumulus clouds, you will see that the top of the clouds flattens out at the tropopause, giving the clouds an 'anvil' shape.

 

As the troposphere warms, and the stratosphere cools, it is certain that the altitude of the tropopause will rise. Normally, this altitude is about 15km in tropical regions and about 8km in polar regions. As it rises, the temperature difference between ground level air and the tropopause will increase. This means that atmospheric covection throughout the world will become more vigorous. To this observer, the potential consequences, for an increase in the frequency and (more likely) the intensity of convection related weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes and temperate latitude storms is enormous, yet I have never come across any mention of it in the literature.

It may be something that has been overlooked.

[ronthepon]

Quite an interesting post.

 

Although, I am not very sure that the statosphere absorbs infrared radiations at a very noticeable rate...