The Earth's atmosphere is divided
into five main layers based on temperature and pressure characteristics:
- Troposphere: This is the
lowest layer of the atmosphere and extends up to about 8-18 km above the
Earth's surface. It is where all of our weather occurs and where most of
the Earth's atmospheric mass is located. The temperature decreases with
height in the troposphere.
- Stratosphere: Above the
troposphere, the stratosphere extends from about 18 km to about 50 km
above the Earth's surface. The temperature in the stratosphere increases
with height, and it is home to the ozone layer, which protects the Earth
from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
- Mesosphere: The mesosphere
extends from about 50 km to about 85 km above the Earth's surface. In this
layer, the temperature decreases with height, and it is where meteors burn
up upon entering the Earth's atmosphere.
- Thermosphere: The
thermosphere extends from about 85 km to about 600 km above the Earth's
surface. This layer is characterized by very high temperatures, which are
caused by the absorption of high-energy particles from the sun. The
thermosphere is also home to the aurora borealis and aurora australis.
- Exosphere: This is the
outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere and extends from about 600 km to
several thousand kilometers above the Earth's surface. The exosphere
merges with the vacuum of space, and it is where most of the Earth's
satellites orbit. The temperature in the exosphere is highly variable and
can range from thousands of degrees Celsius to a few tens of degrees above
absolute zero.
These five layers make up the Earth's atmosphere,
which protects the planet and supports life by providing the air that we
breathe and regulating the Earth's temperature.