Atmosphere Layers

The atmosphere is the layer of air around Earth. It is made of many gases like nitrogen and oxygen. The atmosphere keeps us warm and protects us from the sun's harmful rays. Scientists have found that it has five different layers. Each layer has its own height and special features.

The Lower Layers

The first layer is the troposphere, where we live and where weather happens. Clouds, rain, and wind are all in this layer. Above it is the stratosphere, where airplanes like to fly because the air is smooth. The stratosphere also has the ozone layer, which blocks harmful rays from the sun. These two layers are where most of the action happens.

The Upper Layers

The mesosphere comes next and is where meteors burn up when they hit Earth's air. Above that is the thermosphere, which is very hot and where the northern lights dance. The outermost layer is called the exosphere, where the air slowly fades into space. Satellites orbit Earth in the thermosphere and exosphere. These layers protect us every day.

Fun Facts

• Mount Everest is so tall that its peak sticks partway into the stratosphere.
• Shooting stars are really meteors burning up in the mesosphere.
• The International Space Station orbits in the thermosphere.

Did You Know?

If Earth had no atmosphere, the sky would look black even during the day and there would be no weather.