Layers of the Atmosphere

Using the graph, answer the following question. In these two layers, the temperature decreases as altitude increases.

• Troposphere & Mesosphere

• Stratosphere & Thermosphere

• Troposphere & Thermosphere

• Troposphere & Stratosphere

Using the graph, answer the following question. In these two layers, the temperature increases as the altitude increases.

• Troposphere & Mesosphere

• Stratosphere & Thermosphere

• Troposphere & Thermosphere

• Troposphere & Stratosphere

Many satellites actually orbit Earth within this layer, including the International Space Station. Variations in the amount of energy coming from the Sun exert a powerful influence on both the height of the top of this layer and the temperature within it. The aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, occur here. Another name for this layer is the “heat” layer.

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

Most meteors burn up in this layer. Unlike the stratosphere, temperatures once again grow colder as you rise. The coldest temperatures in Earth's atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found near the top of this layer. The air is far too thin to breathe; air pressure at the bottom of the layer is well below 1% of the pressure at sea level, and continues dropping as you go higher.

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

The "air" is very, very, very thin, making this layer even more space-like than the thermosphere. In fact, the air is constantly - though very gradually - "leaking" out of Earth's atmosphere into outer space. There is no clear-cut upper boundary. High Earth Orbit satellites can be found here.

• Troposphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

The layer humans live in, and nearly all weather occurs in this lowest layer. Most clouds appear here, mainly because 99% of the water vapor in the atmosphere is found here. Air pressure drops, and temperatures get colder, as you climb higher.

• Exosphere

• Thermosphere

• Mesosphere

• Stratosphere

• Troposphere

Which layer is the coldest?

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The Northern Lights are found in this layer.

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

Most weather occurs in this layer.

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

This layer is the “heat layer”.

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Mesosphere

• Thermosphere

• Exosphere