How do the atmospheric layers differ from each other?

Question

Mason Allen · Accepted Answer

Just above, it is the cloudy Troposphere.Just above is Stratosphere with ozone layer atop that absorbs harmful solar ultraviolet rays.. Above is Mesosphere, with low temperature and pressure ..... .

Layers: Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Troposphere, and Stratosphere. Up to roughly 10 km above, that's the cloudy troposphere. The stratosphere is directly above, and the ozone layer that covers it absorbs solar UV radiation that can be harmful. The mesosphere is located above and has temperatures as low as -100 oC and pressure as low as 1/1000 of sea level pressure. The thermosphere, which is located above this, has a temperature that rises steadily with height. The ionized layer known as the ionosphere, which lies beyond, allows communication between antipodal Australia and the Americas. Since the borders are not well defined, transition pauses such as the tropopause, which is located approximately 10 km above the Earth, the stratopause, which is located 20 km above the Earth, and the Kaman line, which is located 100 km above the Earth, must be defined. Another is the Exosphere, which is located 500 km from Earth and is where sparse hydrogen and helium atoms may be able to escape Earth's gravity. Naturally, the magnetosphere, which extends beyond Exosphere to a distance of roughly 50,000 km, is the entry point for interplanetary disturbances.

Xavier Atkins · Answer

undefined The atmospheric layers differ from each other primarily in terms of temperature, composition, and density. There are five main layers of Earth's atmosphere:

1. Troposphere: The troposphere is the lowest layer and extends from the Earth's surface up to about 10-15 kilometers. It contains the majority of the Earth's weather and is where most of the atmosphere's mass is concentrated. Temperature generally decreases with altitude in the troposphere.

2. Stratosphere: The stratosphere lies above the troposphere, extending from about 10-15 kilometers up to about 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface. It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the majority of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Temperature generally increases with altitude in the stratosphere due to the absorption of solar radiation by ozone.

3. Mesosphere: The mesosphere is located above the stratosphere, extending from about 50-80 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Temperatures in the mesosphere decrease with altitude, reaching extremely cold temperatures as low as -90 degrees Celsius.

4. Thermosphere: The thermosphere is situated above the mesosphere, extending from about 80 kilometers up to about 550 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach very high levels due to the absorption of solar radiation, but the air density is extremely low.

5. Exosphere: The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, beginning at around 550 kilometers above the Earth's surface and extending into space. It consists of very sparse gas molecules that gradually thin out into the vacuum of space.

These atmospheric layers differ in their temperature profiles, composition, and density, each playing a crucial role in Earth's climate, weather patterns, and protection from solar radiation.