What are the characteristics of the stratosphere?

The stratosphere is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is characterized by a temperature increase with altitude, which is primarily due to the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the ozone layer that resides within it. This ozone layer plays a crucial role in protecting life on Earth by filtering out harmful UV radiation from the sun, making the stratosphere warmer compared to the troposphere, which is the layer below it where most weather phenomena occur.

The stability of the stratosphere, along with its warmth, contributes to a relatively calm atmosphere, free from the turbulence and weather events typically found in the lower troposphere. This stability allows for the formation of the ozone layer and helps to maintain it, as the processes in the stratosphere do not involve the same convection currents that lead to weather patterns in the troposphere.