Q:
How high does the earth's atmosphere extend?
A:
Quick Answer
Earth's atmosphere extends approximately 430 miles up from the surface of the planet. The layer that contains most of the air on the planet, the troposphere, also provides the majority of weather events and only goes up about 11 miles into the air.
Continue Reading
Credit:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
CC-BY 2.0
Full Answer
Above the troposphere, the stratosphere extends 19 more miles up, to a total height of 30 miles. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which keeps a lot of the ultraviolet rays from the sun from reaching the surface. Then comes the mesosphere, which is the layer in which most meteors burn up. The highest layer is the ionosphere, so thin that it offers scant protection when compared to outer space. Many satellites and the International Space Station orbit inside the ionosphere.
Learn more about AtmosphereSources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
How do you describe the amount of air changes as you move through the Earth's atmosphere?
A: The thickest layer of the atmosphere is the troposphere, which averages 11 miles high at the equator and is thinner at the poles. All the weather occurs in... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How does the atmosphere protect life on earth?
A: Earth’s atmosphere protects life on the surface by filtering deadly ultraviolet radiation, destroying most meteors that pass through it and retaining heat.... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What is caused by the uneven heating of Earth and its atmosphere?
A: Wind is created by the uneven heating of Earth's surface and atmosphere. Different substances on the planetary surface absorb solar radiation at different ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some facts about the stratosphere?
A: Moving up from the surface, the stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth's atmosphere, beginning between 5 and 10 miles (26,000 to 53,000) feet up. Th... Full Answer >Filed Under:
