Earth's Atmospheric Layers

The small blue and green planet we call home is a very special and unique place. We live on the only planet in our solar system and possibly in the galaxy, where life is known to exist. All life exists within thin film of air, water, and soil. This spherical shell of life is known as the biosphere. The biosphere can be divided into three layers; the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), and the lithosphere (rock and soil).

It is the unique attribute of the Earth's atmosphere that allows it to be a habitable place for humans, animals, microbes and plants, as we know them. The atmosphere is a mixture of gases and particles that surround our planet. When seen from space, the atmosphere appears as a thin seam of dark blue light on a curved horizon.

Troposphere

The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles). This part of the atmosphere is the most dense. Almost all weather is in this region.

Stratosphere

The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high. The ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation, is in this layer.

Mesosphere

The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles) high. Meteors burn up in this layer.

Thermosphere

The thermosphere starts just above the mesosphere and extends to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high. Aurora and satellites occur in this layer.

Ionosphere

The ionosphere is an abundant layer of electrons and ionized atoms and molecules that stretches from about 48 kilometers (30 miles) above the surface to the edge of space at about 965 km (600 mi), overlapping into the mesosphere and thermosphere. This dynamic region grows and shrinks based on solar conditions and divides further into the sub-regions: D, E and F; based on what wavelength of solar radiation is absorbed. The ionosphere is a critical link in the chain of Sun-Earth interactions. This region is what makes radio communications possible.

Exosphere

This is the upper limit of our atmosphere. It extends from the top of the thermosphere up to 10,000 km (6,200 mi).

Source : Ozone layer - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change