<P> The mechanism describing the formation of the ozone layer was described by British mathematician Sydney Chapman in 1930 . Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV - C region , at wavelengths shorter than about 240 nm . The oxygen atoms produced combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone . Ozone in turn is photolysed much more rapidly than molecular oxygen as it has a stronger absorption that occurs at longer wavelengths , where the solar emission is more intense . Ozone ( O ) photolysis produces O and O . The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O , releasing heat . The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heats the stratosphere resulting in a temperature inversion . This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere ; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified . Within the stratosphere temperatures increase with altitude ( see temperature inversion ) ; the top of the stratosphere has a temperature of about 270 K ( − 3 ° C or 26.6 ° F ) . This vertical stratification , with warmer layers above and cooler layers below , makes the stratosphere dynamically stable : there is no regular convection and associated turbulence in this part of the atmosphere . However , exceptionally energetic convection processes , such as volcanic eruption columns and overshooting tops in severe supercell thunderstorms , may carry convection into the stratosphere on a very local and temporary basis . Overall the attenuation of solar UV at wavelengths that damage DNA by the ozone layer allows life to exist on the surface of the planet outside of the ocean . All air entering the stratosphere must pass through the tropopause , the temperature minimum that divides the troposphere and stratosphere . The rising air is literally freeze dried ; the stratosphere is a very dry place . The top of the stratosphere is called the stratopause , above which the temperature decreases with height . </P>
<P> The mechanism describing the formation of the ozone layer was described by British mathematician Sydney Chapman in 1930 . Molecular oxygen absorbs high energy sunlight in the UV - C region , at wavelengths shorter than about 240 nm . The oxygen atoms produced combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone . Ozone in turn is photolysed much more rapidly than molecular oxygen as it has a stronger absorption that occurs at longer wavelengths , where the solar emission is more intense . Ozone ( O ) photolysis produces O and O . The oxygen atom product combines with atmospheric molecular oxygen to reform O , releasing heat . The rapid photolysis and reformation of ozone heats the stratosphere resulting in a temperature inversion . This increase of temperature with altitude is characteristic of the stratosphere ; its resistance to vertical mixing means that it is stratified . Within the stratosphere temperatures increase with altitude ( see temperature inversion ) ; the top of the stratosphere has a temperature of about 270 K ( − 3 ° C or 26.6 ° F ) . This vertical stratification , with warmer layers above and cooler layers below , makes the stratosphere dynamically stable : there is no regular convection and associated turbulence in this part of the atmosphere . However , exceptionally energetic convection processes , such as volcanic eruption columns and overshooting tops in severe supercell thunderstorms , may carry convection into the stratosphere on a very local and temporary basis . Overall the attenuation of solar UV at wavelengths that damage DNA by the ozone layer allows life to exist on the surface of the planet outside of the ocean . All air entering the stratosphere must pass through the tropopause , the temperature minimum that divides the troposphere and stratosphere . The rising air is literally freeze dried ; the stratosphere is a very dry place . The top of the stratosphere is called the stratopause , above which the temperature decreases with height . </P>
what gas in the stratosphere causes temperatures to increase with altitude
what gas in the stratosphere causes temperatures to increase with altitude
ozone
ozone