Final answer:
Earth's atmosphere is structured into five main layers. Starting from the surface, these are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. Each layer has specific characteristics and a unique role in the Earth's climate system.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Earth's Atmosphere Layers
The Earth's atmosphere is composed of several distinct layers, each with its own characteristics. Starting from the ground and moving upwards, the first layer we encounter is the troposphere, which is where all of our weather occurs. The stratosphere is next, known for its ozone layer that absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation.
Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere, which is where most meteors burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. Farther out, we reach the thermosphere. This layer holds the distinction of being where the northern and southern lights occur, due to the interaction of solar particles with gases like oxygen and nitrogen. It also has a drastic temperature increase with height. The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere is the exosphere, which gradually fades into space. In the upper thermosphere and exosphere, ultraviolet radiation can ionize atoms, creating what is known as the ionosphere.
The major components of dry clean air in these layers include nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), and argon (Ar), with water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO₂) being significant minor gases. These components are consistent throughout the atmospheric layers, albeit in varying concentrations. The arrangement of layers in the atmosphere shows a specific order, which can be remembered with the mnemonic or sequence: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere, or simply T-S-M-T-E.