The atmosphere is divided into five layers. It is
thickest near the surface and thins out with height until it eventually merges
with space.
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1) The troposphere
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The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half
of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer. Weather in this
layer affects our daily life.
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Between 7 to 14 kilometres.
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The higher, the colder.
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2) The stratosphere
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Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable.
Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun.
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Starts at 14 to 50 kilometres.
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The higher, the hotter.
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3) The mesosphere.
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Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.
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Between 50 to 85 kilometres.
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The higher, the colder.
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4) The thermosphere.
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The thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space
shuttle orbits.
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Between 85 to 640 kilometres or higher.
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The higher, the hotter.
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5) The exosphere.
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The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This
is the upper limit of our atmosphere.
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640 kilometres or higher.
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