Final answer:
The mesosphere is the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere, located above the stratosphere. It serves as a protective shield that burns up meteors due to friction with air molecules. The temperature in the mesosphere decreases with increasing altitude.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mesosphere is a layer of the Earth's atmosphere that starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles) high. It is the third layer of the atmosphere. In the mesosphere, meteors burn up due to the friction between them and the air molecules. This layer serves as a protective shield, preventing most meteors from reaching the Earth's surface.
The relationship between temperature and altitude in the mesosphere is inverse. As you go higher in the mesosphere, the temperature decreases. The average temperature in the mesosphere is around -90 degrees Celsius (-130 degrees Fahrenheit).