Atmospheric temperature

or by the mean of the daily minimum and maximum readings (though the latter can result in mean temperatures up to 1 °C cooler or warmer than the true mean, depending on the time of observation).

Temperature varies greatly at different heights relative to the surface of the Earth; it is this variation which characterizes the four layers that exist in the atmosphere.

Because the troposphere experiences its warmest temperatures closer to Earth's surface, there is great vertical movement of heat and water vapour, causing turbulence.

This turbulence, in conjunction with the presence of water vapour, is the reason that weather occurs within the troposphere.

The stratosphere receives its warmth from the sun and the ozone layer which absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

[5] This decrease in temperature can be attributed to the diminishing radiation received from the Sun, after most of it has already been absorbed by the thermosphere.

The size of ground-level atmospheric temperature ranges depends on several factors, such as: The figure on the left shows an example of monthly temperatures recorded in the city of Campinas, Brazil, which lies approximately 60 km north of the Tropic of Capricorn at 22 degrees latitude.

[6] Variability throughout the year is small (standard deviation of 2.31 °C for the maximum monthly average and 4.11 °C for the minimum).

[7][8] The phenomenon is attributed to the interaction of thermal radiation effects on atmospheric aerosols and convection transfer close to the ground.