(WAND) - Earth's atmosphere is divided into several distinct layers, each characterized by specific temperature variations, composition, and phenomena. Below are the primary layers of the atmosphere, from the Earth's surface upward:

  1. Troposphere:  This layer extends from the Earth's surface up to 5-9 miles.   This is where we live and where most weather occurs.  Roughly 75% of the atmosphere's mass and most of its water vapor are contained here.  Temperature typically decreases with height. 

  2.  Stratosphere:  Ranges from about 9-31 miles above the Earth’s surface. The ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation, is located in this layer.  It's because of the ozone layer, which absorbs ultraviolet radiation, that the temperature increases with altitude. 

  3. Mesosphere: Extends roughly from 31-53 miles above the Earth. Temperatures decrease with height, making this the coldest layer of the atmosphere.   This is where most meteors burn up, leading to "shooting stars." 

  4. Thermosphere: Ranges from about 53-373 miles.  Temperatures rise significantly with altitude, often reaching up to 4,500 °F. However, the air density is extremely low. The auroras occur here, as charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the thermosphere. This is also where the International Space Station calls home.  

  5. Exosphere: Extends from about 373-6,200 miles.  This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere, where the air is extremely thin. Satellites orbit in this layer, and it is the transitional region between the Earth's atmosphere and outer space.Â