How do the westerlies behave with height in the troposphere and stratosphere respectively?

• A. Decrease, decrease
• B. Increase, decrease
• C. Decrease, increase
• D. Remain constant, increase

Answer: (B)

In the troposphere, the westerlies tend to increase with height due to the effects of thermal heating and wind shear caused by the Earth's surface. As you move up from the surface, the temperature generally decreases, and the upper atmosphere becomes more turbulent, which can enhance wind speeds. This leads to a pattern where the westerlies, predominantly found in mid-latitudes, gather strength as altitude increases.

In the stratosphere, however, the behavior of the westerlies changes. Here, the wind speeds generally decrease with height. The stratosphere experiences a stable layer where temperature tends to increase with altitude, mainly due to the presence of the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation. This temperature inversion inhibits vertical mixing and reduces wind speeds compared to those observed in the troposphere.

Understanding the relationship of wind behavior with height in these layers of the atmosphere is essential for various applications, including flight planning, predicting weather patterns, and understanding the dynamics of climate. The westerlies' behavior is a fundamental aspect of atmospheric science and aviation weather, highlighting how environmental conditions vary with altitude.