Layers of the Atmosphere

John Wozniak

The Troposphere

• Lowest layer of the atmosphere• The densest layer of the atmosphere• Contains 90 percent of the

atmosphere’s total mass• Contains all most all of the CO2,

water vapor, clouds, air pollution, weather

• The altitude is from 0-16 km

The Stratosphere

• Contains the Ozone layer• Very thin air contains very little moisture• Lower part extremely cold, about -60°C• Temp. rises with increasing altitude• Ozone layer absorbs solar energy in the

form of ultraviolet radiation, and protects the Earth’s surface

• The altitude is from 16-50 km

The Mesosphere

• The coldest layer of the atmosphere• The temp. drops with increasing

altitude• Temp. can be as low as -93°C• Scientists have discovered wind

storms with winds reaching 320 kmh• The altitude is from 50-80 km

The Thermosphere

• The upper most layer of the atmosphere

• Temps. can reach up to 1,700°C• But doesn’t feel hot because there

are not very many particles to transfer the temp.

• The altitude is from 80-600 km

Transitions of the Layers

• The line in between the Troposphere and the Stratosphere is called the Tropopause

• The line in between the Stratosphere and the Mesosphere is called the Stratopause

• The line in between the Mesosphere and the Thermosphere is called the Mesopause

• There is no line in between the Thermosphere and space

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