Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth and retained by

the Earth's gravity. It contains roughly (by molar content/volume) 78% nitrogen,
20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% carbon dioxide, trace amounts of other gases,
and a variable amount (average around 1%) of water vapor. This mixture of gases is
commonly known as air. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing
ultraviolet solar radiation and reducing temperature extremes between day and night.
There is no definite boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. It slowly
becomes thinner and fades into space. Three quarters of the atmosphere's mass is
within 11 km of the planetary surface. In the United States, people who travel above
an altitude of 80.5 km (50 statute miles) are designated astronauts. An altitude of
120 km (400,000 ft) marks the boundary where atmospheric effects become
noticeable during re-entry. The Krmn line, at 100 km (328,000 ft), is also frequently
regarded as the boundary between atmosphere and outer space.
The temperature of the Earth's atmosphere varies with altitude; the mathematical
relationship between temperature and altitude varies among six different atmospheric
layers:

1. Troposphere: From the Greek word ""

meaning to turn or mix. The troposphere is the
lowest layer of the atmosphere; it begins at the
surface and extends to between 7 km (23,000 ft)
at the poles and 17 km (60,000 ft) at the
equator, with some variation due to weather
factors. The troposphere has a great deal of
vertical mixing due to solar heating at the
surface. This heating warms air masses, which
makes them less dense so they rise. When an air
mass rises the pressure upon it decreases so it
expands, doing work against the opposing
pressure of the surrounding air. To do work is to
expend energy, so the temperature of the air
mass decreases. As the temperature decreases,
water vapor in the air mass may condense or
solidify, releasing latent heat that further uplifts
the air mass. This process determines the
maximum rate of decline of temperature with
height, called the adiabatic lapse rate.

1. Stratosphere: From the Latin word "stratus"

meaning a spreading out. The stratosphere
extends from the troposphere's 7 to 17 km (23 60,000 ft) range to about 50 km (160,000 ft).
Temperature increases with height. The
stratosphere contains the ozone layer, the part of
the Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively
high concentrations of ozone. "Relatively high"

means a few parts per millionmuch higher

than the concentrations in the lower atmosphere
but still small compared to the main
components of the atmosphere. It is mainly
located in the lower portion of the stratosphere
from approximately 15 to 35 km (50 - 115,000
ft) above Earth's surface, though the thickness
varies seasonally and geographically.

1. Mesosphere: From the Greek word ""

meaning middle. The mesosphere extends from
about 50 km (160,000 ft) to the range of 80 to
85 km (265 - 285,000 ft), temperature
decreasing with height.

1. Thermosphere: from 80 85 km (265 285,000 ft) to 640+ km (400+ mi), temperature

increasing with height.

1. Ionosphere: is the part of the atmosphere that is

ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important
part in atmospheric electricity and forms the
inner edge of the magnetosphere. It has
practical importance because, among other
functions, it influences radio propagation to
distant places on the Earth. It is located in the
thermosphere and is responsible for auroras.
1. Exosphere: from 500 - 1000 km (300 - 600 mi)
up to 10,000 km (6,000 mi), free-moving
particles that may migrate into and out of the
magnetosphere or the solar wind.
The boundaries between these regions are named the tropopause, stratopause,
mesopause, thermopause and exobase.
The average temperature of the atmosphere at the surface of Earth is 15 C (59 F).
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