Question

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ____ and is approximately ____ feet at the equator and ____ feet at the poles.

A. Troposphere; 36,000; 60,000
B. Stratosphere; 60,000; 36,000
C. Mesosphere; 36,000; 60,000
D. Thermosphere; 60,000; 36,000

Answer 1

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the troposphere, and is approximately 36,000 feet at the poles. The correct answer is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the troposphere, and at the equator, it extends to an altitude of about 36,000 feet (11 km to 13 km). However, at the poles, the altitude of the troposphere can be less, generally around 28,000 to 32,000 feet due to the cooler temperatures there. The correct answer to the question is A. Troposphere; 36,000; 60,000 though the second height should actually be lesser than stated, as the troposphere does not typically reach 60,000 feet at the poles. The troposphere is the atmospheric layer where most of our weather phenomena occur, and it contains approximately 80% of the Earth's atmosphere by mass. The correct answer is A.