Bb

• Layers of Earth's atmosphere

  • Troposphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Exosphere
• Troposphere


  The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where most weather phenomena occur. It contains 75-80% of the atmosphere's mass and nearly all of its water vapor and dust particles. This is the layer where airplanes fly. Temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude in the troposphere.
• Stratosphere


  The layer above the troposphere, extending from about 10 to 50 kilometers (6.2 to 31 miles) above Earth's surface. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, a region with a high concentration of ozone (O3) that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. Temperatures in the stratosphere generally increase with increasing altitude.
• Mesosphere


  The layer above the stratosphere, extending from about 50 to 85 kilometers (31 to 53 miles) above Earth's surface. The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures decreasing rapidly with increasing altitude. Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere.
• Thermosphere


  The layer above the mesosphere, extending from about 85 to 690 kilometers (53 to 430 miles) above Earth's surface. The thermosphere is the hottest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures increasing significantly with increasing altitude due to the absorption of solar radiation by oxygen and nitrogen molecules. The thermosphere is where auroras (northern and southern lights) occur.
• Exosphere


  The outermost layer of the atmosphere, extending from about 690 kilometers (430 miles) above Earth's surface to thousands of kilometers away. The exosphere is the thinnest layer of the atmosphere, where particles can escape into space.