Temperature varies with the altitude. We can divide the atmosphere above Earth into four zones. They are:
1. Troposphere: This comes from the Greek tropism which means "to change". In this zone, the temperature falls steadily at a rate of 6.5 C per Km (3.5 F per 1000 feet) evenly from around 20 C (68 F) at the surface to a temperature of around -60 C (-76 F) at an elevation of about 12 Kilometers (7.5 miles). The troposphere contains over 80% of the atmospheric mass, and virtually all the water vapor. This acts as a blanket and so the temperature falls as it thins. For more information, click below.
2. Stratosphere: From the Greek Stratum meaning "covering layer". This extends from 12 Km to about 50 Km (30 miles) Here the temperature rises unevenly from -60 C to about -5 C (23 F). Together the troposphere and stratosphere account for 99.9% of the atmosphere. For more information of the Stratosphere, click below:
3. Mesosphere which is next layer (from the Greek Meso, "middle"), which extends from 50 Km to 80 Km (50 miles). Here the temperature decreases rather uniformly from -5C to -95C (-140F). For more information click below:
4. Thermosphere from the Greek therme, meaning "heat" is the topmost layer, extending from 80 km to 200 km (125 miles). Here the atmosphere is so light that the heat of the Sun raises the temperature which increases uniformly to over 1000 C (about 1800 F). For more information click below:
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