Pluto is a dwarf planet with a semi$-$major axis a $=39\mathrm{.}5$ AU$,$ located within the Kuiper Belt. Pluto has a tenuous atmosphere with surface pressures estimated at ~$1$x$10-5$ bar $(1$ Pa$).$ Pluto$$s atmosphere is dominated by nitrogen and contains small quantities of methane, carbon monoxide and other more complex hydrocarbons. Below we consider the thermal structure of Pluto$$s atmosphere.

Using your knowledge of Python$/$matplotlib generate an altitude$-$temperature plot for Pluto. The data needed for this task is suppled as a downloadable csv file: $$TMA$03-$Q$2\_$Pluto$\_$atmosphere$\_$dataset$,$ Plot temperature on the x$-$axis and altitude on the y$-$axis. s probe during the fly$-$by of Pluto in $2015.$ Radio signals from the spacecraft passed through the atmosphere providing an opportunity to obtain a temperature$-$altitude profile of Pluto's atmosphere.

The atmospheres of rocky bodies can be subdivided into layers based upon temperature trends with altitude. Pluto$$s atmosphere contains three layers. Use your plot to identify the two boundaries between these three layers. Either mark the two boundaries as horizontal lines on your plot or write out the altitude of the two boundaries in a table.

Describe the temperature$-$altitude trend within the lowermost region of Pluto$$s atmosphere $($located between the surface and your $1$st boundary line$).$ What is unusual about the thermal structure of this region?

Select the correct scientific term for the lowermost region of Pluto$$s atmosphere $($located between the surface and your $1$st boundary line$)$ from the list of options: mesosphere, stratosphere, exosphere, troposphere, thermosphere.

Altitude $($km$),$Temperature $($K$)$

$0\mathrm{.}423,42\mathrm{.}345$

$0\mathrm{.}789,47\mathrm{.}845$

$1\mathrm{.}456,63\mathrm{.}934$

$2\mathrm{.}219,72\mathrm{.}896$

$4\mathrm{.}067,80\mathrm{.}448$

$4\mathrm{.}921,86\mathrm{.}976$

$5\mathrm{.}811,92\mathrm{.}096$

$8\mathrm{.}738,97\mathrm{.}344$

$11\mathrm{.}675,102\mathrm{.}208$

$14\mathrm{.}664,105\mathrm{.}024$

$23\mathrm{.}793,107\mathrm{.}2$

$35\mathrm{.}066,105\mathrm{.}28$

$47\mathrm{.}363,103\mathrm{.}232$

$61\mathrm{.}714,100\mathrm{.}672$

$77\mathrm{.}073,98\mathrm{.}624$

$98\mathrm{.}586,95\mathrm{.}296$

$114\mathrm{.}975,92\mathrm{.}864$

$128\mathrm{.}289,90\mathrm{.}944$

$144\mathrm{.}681,88\mathrm{.}384$

$164\mathrm{.}147,85\mathrm{.}312$

$180\mathrm{.}532,83\mathrm{.}008$

$195\mathrm{.}897,80\mathrm{.}704$

$217\mathrm{.}411,77\mathrm{.}376$

$237\mathrm{.}884,74\mathrm{.}816$

$259\mathrm{.}391,71\mathrm{.}744$

$284\mathrm{.}960,69\mathrm{.}44$

$306\mathrm{.}438,67\mathrm{.}52$

$336\mathrm{.}075,65\mathrm{.}728$

$368\mathrm{.}771,64\mathrm{.}064$

$395\mathrm{.}327,63\mathrm{.}04$

$423\mathrm{.}912,62\mathrm{.}528$

$458\mathrm{.}612,62\mathrm{.}272$

$481\mathrm{.}061,62\mathrm{.}272$

$514\mathrm{.}728,62\mathrm{.}528$

$544\mathrm{.}313,62\mathrm{.}784$

$568\mathrm{.}790,63\mathrm{.}296$

$595\mathrm{.}311,63\mathrm{.}68$

$620\mathrm{.}811,64\mathrm{.}064$

$640\mathrm{.}193,64\mathrm{.}32$

$660\mathrm{.}591,64\mathrm{.}704$

$680\mathrm{.}989,65\mathrm{.}088$

$698\mathrm{.}330,65\mathrm{.}344$

$716\mathrm{.}691,65\mathrm{.}6$

$733\mathrm{.}011,65\mathrm{.}856$

$751\mathrm{.}371,66\mathrm{.}112$

$770\mathrm{.}756,66\mathrm{.}24$

$787\mathrm{.}076,66\mathrm{.}496$

$805\mathrm{.}440,66\mathrm{.}624$

$819\mathrm{.}722,66\mathrm{.}752$

$835\mathrm{.}029,66\mathrm{.}752$

$852\mathrm{.}369,67\mathrm{.}008$

$868\mathrm{.}692,67\mathrm{.}136$

$887\mathrm{.}056,67\mathrm{.}264$

$906\mathrm{.}441,67\mathrm{.}392$

$927\mathrm{.}869,67\mathrm{.}392$

$950\mathrm{.}318,67\mathrm{.}392$

$965\mathrm{.}621,67\mathrm{.}52$

$982\mathrm{.}968,67\mathrm{.}52$

$999\mathrm{.}291,67\mathrm{.}648$

$1015\mathrm{.}618,67\mathrm{.}648$

$1037\mathrm{.}047,67\mathrm{.}648$

$1062\mathrm{.}557,67\mathrm{.}648$

$1078\mathrm{.}887,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1097\mathrm{.}254,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1113\mathrm{.}580,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1131\mathrm{.}948,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1148\mathrm{.}274,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1166\mathrm{.}642,67\mathrm{.}52$

$1189\mathrm{.}091,67\mathrm{.}52$