The Sky Is Rising

Makarand writes "The height of the tropopause, the boundary layer between the troposphere and stratosphere and the roof of the Earth's lower atmosphere, has risen by an average of around 650 feet globally over the last 22 years according to this article in the San Francisco Chronicle. Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation and warm the troposphere. The resulting tropospheric expansion is moving the tropopause upward. Also, the ozone depleted stratosphere is losing its ability to absorb sunlight causing it to cool and contract pulling the tropopause upward."

Comments

Of course

[SpaceLifeForm]

This is to be expected. Imagine the atmosphere as a balloon. If you heat it, it will expand. And not only that, but it's surface area will stretch and become thinner. Now imagine that the surface area of the balloon is the earth's ozone. There is only so much to spread around, and it becomes thinner and thinner. In the case of the balloon, it will pop of course, in the case of the atmosphere, it will re-organize itself in whatever state the laws of phsyics decide it should be organized. I.E, the ozone "hole". My point here is that the ozone "hole" can exist not just because of CFCs, but also because of Global Warming.

Re:Before everyone shouts global warming...

[PD]

It's been shown that at least some of the change is due to human activity, and we can't wave our hands and make that just go away.

Re:Before everyone shouts global warming...

[Mr. Slippery]

The earth's temperature fluctuates, and not necessarily because of humans.

People's heartrate fluctuates, and not necessarily because of caffeiene. However, if I just downed a triple espresso, and my pulse is now at 150bpm, it's a pretty good hypothesis that the drug is responsible, and common sense that if I don't want further increases I should cut back.