troposphere

American  

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

noun

Meteorology.

1. 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.

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troposphere British  

/ ˌtrɒpəˈsfɛrɪk, ˈtrɒpəˌsfɪə /

noun

1. 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

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troposphere Scientific  

/ trō′pə-sfîr′,trŏp′ə- /

1. 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.

2. See also exosphere mesosphere stratosphere thermosphere See illustration at atmosphere

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troposphere Cultural  

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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tropospheric
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of troposphere

First recorded in 1905–10; tropo- + sphere

Compare meaning

How does troposphere compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• troposphere vs. stratosphere

Explanation

Use the noun troposphere when you're talking about the part of the atmosphere that's closest to the surface of the Earth. The gases around our planet, which are affected by the Earth's gravity, make up the atmosphere. It is divided into three sections, the lowest of which is the troposphere. Our planet's weather is largely caused by whatever happens in the troposphere, which is known by scientists for its turbulent movement. The word troposphere comes from the Greek root tropos, "a turn or change."

Example Sentences

He abandoned the third Troposphere after his ground-control shed, which he named Centre de Recherche Aérospatiale, or Aerospace Research Center, was burglarized.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2015

Mr. Keka is building Troposphere VI in the east of Congo, where he does much of his work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2015

Of the five rockets he has trucked to their launchpads, the first, Troposphere I, got rain in its fuel compartment and didn’t ignite.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2015

But Mr. Keka’s next creation, Troposphere VI, is more advanced.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2015

In 2009, he dispatched Troposphere V, a 1,576-pound, two-stage solid-fuel rocket designed to climb 23 miles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2015

Related Words

• atmosphere
• breeze
• wind