1. Earth’s Atmospheric Layers

3. Troposphere Weather and clouds occur in this layer
Water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2) are also found in this layer and are important in the weather conditions
As altitude increases, temperature decreases
Airplanes fly here
Extends from the surface of Earth up to 6-20km

4. Stratosphere The ozone layer is contained here
The ozone layer is contained here
Ozone is a form of oxygen that is found in this layer
The temperature is cold except in the upper region where ozone is located
Weather balloons can fly up to the stratosphere
Extends from 20 to 50 km

5. Mesosphere This is the coldest layer
Meteors, or shooting stars, burn up in the mesosphere because of the interaction with the Earth’s atmospheric layers
Extends from 50 up to 85 km
Mesosphere

6. Thermosphere This is the warmest layer
The air is very thin in this layer
The ionosphere can be found in the lower portion of the thermosphere
-the Northern Lights, also called Aurora Borealis, occur here as well
Shuttles orbit here
Extends from 86 up to 690 km

8. Exosphere Cold regions of outer space extend from this layer
Satellites orbit here
Extends from 691 up to 10,000 km
There is no clear definition of where outer space begins, but we generally use the measurements of km from Earth
Exosphere