stratospheric
Sky-high, beyond reach
Stratospheric literally refers to the stratosphere—the layer of atmosphere above the troposphere, roughly 6 to 30 miles up.
More often the word appears figuratively to describe something extremely high or elevated: stratospheric prices, stratospheric expectations, Her approval ratings reached stratospheric levels.
The implication is always of remarkable, perhaps unsustainable, height.
Triatomic oxygen allotrope
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- mesosphereAtmospheric layer, 50-85km up
- ionosphereCharged upper atmospheric layer
- thermosphereHigh-temperature atmospheric zone
exosphere · jetstream · aerosols · cirrus · pressure · vortex · convection · radiosonde
Extremely or excessively elevated
- soaringRising effortlessly upward
- astronomicalRelating to outer space
- exorbitantUnreasonably high, as costs
- extremeFurthest from moderate
unprecedented · record-breaking · off-the-charts · towering · elevated · inflated · excessive · eye-watering
Elevated atmospheric position
- aerospaceAtmosphere plus outer void
- aviationFlying or operating aircraft
- balloonsAir-filled rubber sacs
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
jets · satellites · spacecraft · U-2 · SR-71 · reconnaissance · ceiling · ascent
Ozone-depleting compounds, abbreviated
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- coolingLosing thermal energy
warming · circulation · inversion · temperature · chlorofluorocarbons
ozone
Triatomic oxygen allotrope
- troposphereLowest atmospheric layer
- mesosphereAtmospheric layer, 50-85km up
- ionosphereCharged upper atmospheric layer
thermosphere · exosphere · jetstream · aerosols · cirrus · pressure · vortex · convection · radiosonde · magnetosphere
sky-high
Extremely or excessively elevated
- soaringRising effortlessly upward
- astronomicalRelating to outer space
- exorbitantUnreasonably high, as costs
extreme · unprecedented · record-breaking · off-the-charts · towering · elevated · inflated · excessive · eye-watering · staggering
high-altitude
Elevated atmospheric position
- aerospaceAtmosphere plus outer void
- aviationFlying or operating aircraft
- balloonsAir-filled rubber sacs
flight · jets · satellites · spacecraft · U-2 · SR-71 · reconnaissance · ceiling · ascent · suborbital
CFCs
Ozone-depleting compounds, abbreviated
- greenhouseClimate-controlled plant enclosure
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
cooling · warming · circulation · inversion · temperature · chlorofluorocarbons
stratosphericground-level
At terrain height
subterranean · underground · sea-level · surface-level · terrestrial
stratosphericrock-bottom
Lowest possible level
negligible · minimal · modest · moderate · reasonable
- stratospheric ozoneOxygen variant blocking ultraviolet