The Structure of the Atmosphere

The "Levels" of the Atmosphere

The atmosphere is divided into different layers related to its temperature profile:

• The Troposphere from 0 km (or mountain top) to 7 km (polar regions) and 17 km (tropics), confined by the tropopause

• The Stratosphere up to 50 km, confined by the stratopause

• The Mesosphere up to the mesopause (between 80 and 85 km)

• The Thermosphere up to over 500 km

• The Exosphere up to about 10 000 km

The troposphere is called lower atmosphere, stratosphere and mesosphere make up the middle atmosphere, thermosphere and exosphere are named upper atmosphere.