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Structure of Atmosphere, image - Coggle Diagram
Structure of Atmosphere
The structure of the atmosphere is classified into the following layers −
Troposphere
• Troposphere is the closest to the Earth’s surface and contains water vapor (clouds), moisture, dust, etc.
• Most of the weather phenomena take place in Troposphere.
• Height of the Troposphere varies i.e. at the equator, it is measured about 18 km and at the poles, it is 12 km.
• Tropopause is the transitional zone that separates Troposphere and Stratosphere.
Stratosphere
• Stratosphere is the second-lowest layer of the Earth’s Atmosphere that goes up to 50 km.
• Stratosphere contains Ozone (O3) Layer that absorbs the ultraviolet rays (coming through the Sun rays) and protects life on the Earth.
• As the ultraviolet radiation absorbs in Stratosphere, therefore the temperature rises with increasing altitude.
• The Stratopause is the transitional zone that separates Stratosphere and Mesosphere.
Mesosphere
• Mesosphere, present above the Stratosphere, extends up to (from 50 km to) 80 km.
• Temperature in the Mesosphere decreases with increasing altitude.
• Mesopause is the transitional zone that separates Mesosphere and Thermosphere.
Thermosphere
• Above the Mesosphere, Thermosphere is the second-highest layer that starts at the altitude of 80 km and extends up to (roughly) 700 km (however, it varies between 500 and 1000 km).
• The lower part of the Thermosphere (roughly between 80 km and 550 km) contains ions and known as Ionosphere.
• The temperature of the Thermosphere rises with increasing altitude.
• Thermopause is the transitional zone that separates Thermosphere and Exosphere.
Exosphere
• Exosphere is the highest or outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that extends (starting from 700 km altitude) up to 10,000 km where it ultimately merges into the solar wind.
• Major constituents of the Exosphere are helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
• The phenomena of Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis can be seen in the lower part of the Exosphere (merged with upper part of the Thermosphere).
