tropopause

[ trop-uh-pawz, troh-puh- ]

noun

, Meteorology.

1. the boundary, or transitional layer, between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

tropopause

/ ˈtrɒpəˌpɔːz /

noun

1. meteorol the plane of discontinuity between the troposphere and the stratosphere, characterized by a sharp change in the lapse rate and varying in altitude from about 18 km (11 miles) above the equator to 6 km (4 miles) at the Poles

tropopause

/ trō′pə-pôz′,trŏp′ə- /

1. The boundary between the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere, varying in altitude from about 8 km (5 mi) at the poles to 18 km (11 mi) at the equator.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tropopause¹

First recorded in 1915–20; tropo- + pause

Example Sentences

The upper boundary of the troposphere — known as the tropopause — naturally rises and falls with the seasons.

From Science News For Students

Liu is part of a team that found this tropopause has risen an average of about 200 meters between 1980 and 2020.

From Science News For Students

Ascending air within the plume rose so rapidly that it recoiled upon hitting the tropopause, or the lower edge of the stratosphere, above which it’s extremely difficult for surface parcels of air to rise.

From Washington Post

The boundary between the troposphere and the next layer up is known as the tropopause.

From Science News For Students