stratopause: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “stratopause” mean?
The boundary layer in Earth's atmosphere marking the transition between the stratosphere and the mesosphere.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The boundary layer in Earth's atmosphere marking the transition between the stratosphere and the mesosphere.
In atmospheric science, the stratopause is the region of maximum temperature at the top of the stratosphere, typically found around 50-55 km altitude, which serves as the thermal and chemical transition zone into the mesosphere.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; it is a standardized international scientific term.
Connotations
Purely technical; carries no additional cultural or social connotations in either variety.
Frequency
Identically rare outside meteorological and climatological contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “stratopause” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is located at/above/below the stratopause.Measurements taken at the stratopause show...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used almost exclusively in atmospheric science, geophysics, and climatology papers and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary domain of use; appears in research, weather modelling, and scientific discussions about atmospheric structure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stratopause”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stratopause”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stratopause”
- Misspelling as 'stratopaus' (dropping the 'e').
- Confusing its position relative to the tropopause and mesopause.
- Using it as a countable object (e.g., 'two stratopauses') instead of an uncountable atmospheric feature.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is relatively warmer than the layers immediately above and below it, as it is defined by a temperature maximum.
The ozone layer is concentrated within the stratosphere, while the stratopause is the upper boundary of the stratosphere itself.
No, it is not a visible feature; it is a defined atmospheric transition detected by instruments measuring temperature and composition.
It is a key indicator of atmospheric dynamics and energy transfer, and changes in its altitude or temperature can signal broader climatic shifts.
The boundary layer in Earth's atmosphere marking the transition between the stratosphere and the mesosphere.
Stratopause is usually technical / scientific in register.
Stratopause: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstræt.əʊ.pɔːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstræt̬.ə.pɑːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STRATO-sphere PAUSE-ing before it becomes the mesosphere; the 'pause' is the boundary.
Conceptual Metaphor
The atmosphere as a layer cake; the stratopause is the precise line of icing between two layers.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining characteristic of the stratopause?