Structure of the Atmosphere

There are five layers in the atmosphere. Most of the air you breathe is near the surface and thins out until it reaches space.

1) The troposphere is where weather occurs.
2) Many airplanes fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer exists here.
3) Many rock fragments from space burn up in the mesosphere .
4) The thermosphere is very thin .
5) The upper limit of our atmosphere is the exosphere .

This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth's atmosphere.
Click on image for full size with labels (49K JPEG)

Could there be another layer?

Structure of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with space.

1) The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.
2) Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the sun.
3) Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere .
4) The thermosphere is a layer with auroras, meteors and where the space shuttle orbits.
5) The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere . This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.
This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth's atmosphere.
Click on image for full size with labels (49K JPEG)

Could there be another layer?

Structure of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is divided into five layers It is thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges with space.

1) The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.
2) Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. And the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the sun here.
3) Meteors burn up in the mesosphere .
4) The thermosphere is a layer with auroras, meteors and where the space shuttle orbits.
5) The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere . This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.
This image shows the average temperature profile through the Earth's atmosphere.
Click on image for full size with labels (49K JPEG)

Could there be another layer?


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