Final answer:
The stratosphere is important for absorbing UV radiation through the ozone layer, protecting life from harmful rays. Temperatures in this layer increase with altitude due to ozone absorbing UV radiation. It contains stable weather conditions and is where commercial airplanes typically fly.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significance of the Stratosphere and Temperature Variation
The stratosphere is a critical layer of Earth's atmosphere situated above the troposphere and below the ionosphere. Its significance lies in its role in absorbing ultraviolet (UV) radiation through the ozone layer. This absorption protects life on Earth from harmful UV rays, which can cause skin cancer and genetic damage. The temperature in the stratosphere increases with altitude, which is a reversal of the trend in the troposphere where temperatures decrease with altitude. The reason for this increase is the presence of ozone, which absorbs UV radiation, thus warming the stratosphere.
Features within the stratosphere include the absence of weather phenomena since it lacks the water vapor found in the troposphere responsible for weather. Additionally, most commercial airplanes fly in the lower part of the stratosphere due to the stable conditions and lack of cloud cover. International efforts such as the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have helped to recover the ozone layer and demonstrate the importance of the stratosphere in sustaining planetary habitability.