The Is The Coldest Layer In The Atmosphere. A. Stratosphere B. Troposphere C. Thermosphere D. Mesosphere 6. When
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D. Mesosphere.
Explanation:
The Earth’s atmosphere is divided into several layers based on temperature variations and altitude. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
- Troposphere: This is the layer closest to the Earth’s surface, extending up to about 8–15 km in altitude. In the troposphere, temperature decreases with height, but it is not the coldest layer. Weather events and most of the Earth’s air mass are found here.
- Stratosphere: This layer lies above the troposphere, from about 15 km to 50 km in altitude. The temperature in the stratosphere increases with height due to the absorption of ultraviolet (UV) radiation by the ozone layer. This causes a warming effect, making it warmer than the troposphere.
- Mesosphere: The mesosphere extends from around 50 km to 85 km above the Earth’s surface. It is the coldest layer in the atmosphere. Temperature in the mesosphere decreases with altitude, reaching the lowest temperatures in the entire atmosphere, dropping as low as -90°C. This is due to the very low density of air molecules, which cannot absorb enough energy from the Sun to warm the atmosphere effectively.
- Thermosphere: This layer lies above the mesosphere, from about 85 km to 600 km. In the thermosphere, temperatures rise sharply with altitude due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation by the few air molecules present. Despite the high temperatures, this layer would not feel hot to a human because of the low density of particles.
- Exosphere: This is the outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, where air particles are very sparse and can escape into space. While temperatures here can reach extremely high levels, they are not relevant to human experience because of the lack of air molecules to transfer heat.
Therefore, the mesosphere is the coldest atmospheric layer, experiencing extreme temperatures due to its high altitude and lack of efficient heat absorption.