Question

Explain the different layers of the atmosphere.

Answer 1

Atmosphere: The atmosphere is a thick blanket of air that is formed of various layers. It envelops a planetary body and is tethered to its position by the gravitational energy of the planet.

Depending upon the temperature and the distance from the surface of the Earth, the atmosphere is divided into five layers. They are:

1. Troposphere: It extends to about 20 km from the surface and forms about 80% of the atmosphere since it is the thickest of all layers. It comprises water vapor, ash, and dust particles. Thus, all climatic changes and weather systems exist in this layer. All hot air balloons and passenger planes exist within this layer.
2. Stratosphere: This layer extends from the end of the troposphere up to 30 km. It contains the ozone layer that is responsible for absorbing the harmful UV rays of the sun and preventing fatal conditions like skin cancer.
3. Mesosphere: The mesosphere extends 40 km beyond the stratosphere. The coldest temperature (-90 ℃) in the atmosphere is near the top of this layer. This is the layer that protects us against the meteors coming from space. They burn up in this layer and create “shooting stars”.
4. Thermosphere: This layer extends to approximately 300 km beyond the point where the mesosphere ends. It records some of the highest temperatures in the atmosphere (approximately 2000℃). Various satellites and the International Space Station is situated in this layer. In this layer, all the gaseous components of the atmosphere become ionized and exist as free ionic species. As a result, this layer is also called the ionosphere.
5. Exosphere: The outermost layer of the atmosphere is called the exosphere which extends beyond 700 km. This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere that is further extrapolated into outer space. Thus, it serves as a boundary between the atmosphere of the Earth and outer space.