Layers of earth's atmosphere

1. Troposphere

  • The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere

  • Starts at the Earth’s surface

  • Extends about 6–16 km above Earth

  • All weather happens here (rain, snow, clouds, storms)

  • Temperature decreases as altitude increases

  • Altitude means the height of something above the ground

2. Stratosphere

  • The second lowest layer

  • Extends about 48–56 km above Earth

  • Temperature increases as altitude increases

  • Contains the Ozone Layer

    • Absorbs harmful UV rays from the Sun

  • Airplanes fly here because there is no weather in this layer

3. Mesosphere

  • Located above the stratosphere

  • Extends up to about 80 km above Earth

  • Most meteors burn up in this layer

4. Thermosphere

  • Air is very thin

  • Temperatures are extremely hot

  • Extends up to about 640 km above Earth

  • The Ionosphere is found in the lower part of this layer

    • Contains electrical charges

    • Many atoms are ionized

5. Exosphere

  • The outermost (last) layer of the atmosphere

  • Air is extremely thin

  • Extends up to about 10,000 km above Earth