The Layers of the Earth’s
Atmosphere
Please follow along and add notes
to your graphic organizer 
EXOSPHERE
THERMOSPHERE
MESOSPHERE
STRATOSPHERE
TROPOSPHERE
The Atmosphere
• The atmosphere consists of layers of air
that surround the Earth. Some of the “air”
is oxygen, which we breathe, but there are
also many other gasses, dust particles,
and even some water vapor mixed into the
air.
TROPOSPHERE
The troposphere is the layer closest to the surface of
Earth. Nearly all life and all weather occur in this layer.
The air thins in this layer and is denser than in other
layers. In this layer, the higher up from Earth’s surface
you go, the colder it gets. The peak of Mt. Everest is
near the top of this layer.
STRATOSPHERE
The temperature in this layer becomes
warmer. The air is thinner and drier
than in the previous layer.
MESOSPHERE
The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
When meteoroids from space enter our atmosphere, this is
the layer in which they usually burn up. That might be
surprising because it’s a pretty thin layer.
THERMOSPHERE
Temperatures in the thermosphere are very
high, more that 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This
is where space begins. The International Space
Station orbits Earth in this layer.
EXOSPHERE
The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth’s
atmosphere but there is no exact dividing line
between this layer and space.
This concludes the notes for the
Layers of the Earth’s Atmosphere!!