By: Brian C. BradshawBy: Brian C. Bradshaw

Layers of the AtmosphereLayers of the Atmosphere

ExosphereThermosphereMesosphereStratosphereTroposphere

ExosphereThermosphereMesosphereStratosphereTroposphere

TroposphereTroposphere

Starts at earth’s surface and goes 8 to 14.5 kilometers (5-9 miles)

Most dense As you go higher, temperature drops about

17 to 52 degrees Celsius Almost all weather is found in this region Also known as the lower atmosphere

Starts at earth’s surface and goes 8 to 14.5 kilometers (5-9 miles)

Most dense As you go higher, temperature drops about

17 to 52 degrees Celsius Almost all weather is found in this region Also known as the lower atmosphere

StratosphereStratosphere Starts above troposphere and goes 50

kilometers Dry and less dense than troposphere Temperature increases gradually to -3 degrees

Celsius, due to absorption of ultraviolet radiation

Ozone is in this layer, it absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation

99% of “air” is located in the troposphere and stratosphere

Stratopause separates troposphere and stratosphere

Starts above troposphere and goes 50 kilometers

Dry and less dense than troposphere Temperature increases gradually to -3 degrees

Celsius, due to absorption of ultraviolet radiation

Ozone is in this layer, it absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation

99% of “air” is located in the troposphere and stratosphere

Stratopause separates troposphere and stratosphere

MesosphereMesosphere

Starts just above the stratosphere and continues for 85 kilometers (53 miles)

Temperatures fall as low as -93 degrees Celsius as you increase in altitude

Chemicals are in excited state as they absorb energy from the sun

Mesopause separates mesosphere from thermosphere

Stratosphere + Mesosphere = middle atmosphere

Starts just above the stratosphere and continues for 85 kilometers (53 miles)

Temperatures fall as low as -93 degrees Celsius as you increase in altitude

Chemicals are in excited state as they absorb energy from the sun

Mesopause separates mesosphere from thermosphere

Stratosphere + Mesosphere = middle atmosphere

ThermosphereThermosphere

The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high.

Temperatures can go as high as 1,727 degrees Celsius.

Chemical reactions occur much faster than on the earth’s surface

Also known as the upper atmosphere

The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high.

Temperatures can go as high as 1,727 degrees Celsius.

Chemical reactions occur much faster than on the earth’s surface

Also known as the upper atmosphere

ExosphereExosphere

This is beyond the atmosphere Starts at the top of the thermosphere and

continues until it merges with the interplanetary gases, or space.

In this region of the atmosphere, Hydrogen and Helium are the prime components and are only present at extremely low densities.

This is beyond the atmosphere Starts at the top of the thermosphere and

continues until it merges with the interplanetary gases, or space.

In this region of the atmosphere, Hydrogen and Helium are the prime components and are only present at extremely low densities.