Earth's atmosphere is typically divided into five major layers, based on temperature variations:
1. Troposphere: This is the lowest layer where weather occurs and it extends from the surface of the Earth up to around 8-15 kilometers (5-9 miles) in altitude.
2. Stratosphere: Above the troposphere, this layer extends from around 15-50 kilometers (9-31 miles) in altitude. It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs the majority of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.
3. Mesosphere: This layer extends from around 50-85 kilometers (31-53 miles) in altitude. It is where meteors burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Temperatures decrease with increasing altitude in this layer.
4. Thermosphere: This layer extends from around 85-600 kilometers (53-372 miles) in altitude. It is characterized by a significant increase in temperature with height due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation.
5. Exosphere: This is the outermost layer, extending from around 600 kilometers (372 miles) to the edge of space. The density of the atmospheres decreases significantly in this layer and transitions into the vacuum of space.
Earths atmospheres divided into layers
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