Structure of Atmosphere

Troposphere

Troposphere is the closest to the Earth’s surface and contains water vapor (clouds), moisture, dust, etc.
Most of the weather phenomena take place in Troposphere.

Height of the Troposphere varies i.e. at the equator, it is measured about 18 km and at the poles, it is 12 km.
Tropopause is the transitional zone that separates Troposphere and Stratosphere.

Stratosphere is the second-lowest layer of the Earth’s Atmosphere that goes up to 50 km.
Stratosphere contains Ozone (O₃) Layer that absorbs the ultraviolet rays (coming through the Sun rays) and protects life on the Earth.
As the ultraviolet radiation absorbs in Stratosphere, therefore the temperature rises with increasing altitude.
The Stratopause is the transitional zone that separates Stratosphere and Mesosphere.

Mesosphere, present above the Stratosphere, extends up to (from 50 km to) 80 km.
Temperature in the Mesosphere decreases with increasing altitude.
Mesopause is the transitional zone that separates Mesosphere and Thermosphere.

Above the Mesosphere, Thermosphere is the second-highest layer that starts at the altitude of 80 km and extends up to (roughly) 700 km (however, it varies between 500 and 1000 km).
The lower part of the Thermosphere (roughly between 80 km and 550 km) contains ions and known as Ionosphere.
The temperature of the Thermosphere rises with increasing altitude.
Thermopause is the transitional zone that separates Thermosphere and Exosphere.

Exosphere is the highest or outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that extends (starting from 700 km altitude) up to 10,000 km where it ultimately merges into the solar wind.
Major constituents of the Exosphere are helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
The phenomena of Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis can be seen in the lower part of the Exosphere (merged with upper part of the Thermosphere).
The Human made Satellite is normally placed in the Exosphere