Layers of the Atmosphere | What is Atmosphere | Animation

The thermosphere extends several hundred kilometers above Earth. Its temperature is highly affected by the Sun and can reach 2000ºC, increasing with height. Despite high temperatures, the air would feel cold due to the vast distance between hot molecules.

The Kármán line is a theoretical boundary marking the altitude where traditional aircraft can no longer effectively fly, indicating the edge of space.

Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, where the ozone layer is located. Weather balloons are sent here, and jets fly in its lower part to avoid turbulence. Temperature rises within the stratosphere but remains below freezing. The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.

The mesosphere has very thin air where molecules are far apart. Temperatures can drop to -90°C, and meteors burn up in this layer. The stratosphere and mesosphere together form the middle atmosphere.

Earth's atmosphere is the body of air and gases that surrounds and protects the planet, enabling life. Its three major constituents are nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. The atmosphere has five distinct layers, explained from closest to farthest from Earth.

The exosphere has very few atmospheric molecules that can escape into space. Some scientists classify it as part of outer space rather than the atmosphere due to its lack of a clear upper boundary. The exobase, its lower boundary, is the critical altitude where barometric conditions no longer apply and atmospheric temperature becomes nearly constant.

The troposphere is the layer closest to Earth, extending about 12 km from the surface. It's known as the lower atmosphere, where all weather occurs and humans breathe. Temperature decreases with height in this layer.