stratosphere

Everyday

1. The stratosphere is the layer of air above the lowest layer of the atmosphere, roughly between ten and fifty kilometres above the ground. tree →
2. (informal) The stratosphere means a very high level, far above ordinary things, for example of prices or fame. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the atmosphere has layers: troposphere (where weather happens), then stratosphere (where the ozone layer is), then mesosphere and others. Big planes fly near the bottom of it. In everyday talk «prices went into the stratosphere» means they rose very high.

Examples

• The ozone layer is in the stratosphere. tree →
• Weather balloons can rise into the stratosphere. tree →
• Jet planes fly near the bottom of the stratosphere. tree →
• There are almost no clouds in the stratosphere. tree →
• The air in the stratosphere is very thin and cold. tree →
• After her hit song, her fame shot into the stratosphere. tree →
• House prices have gone into the stratosphere. tree →

Note

Usually «the stratosphere». The layers in order from the ground: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. A trap: the stratosphere is not space; it is still part of Earth's air. Its temperature rises with height because the ozone absorbs sunlight.