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Troposphere
The Troposphere is the bottom layer of the atmosphere. It is the one we live in and breathe from. It contains the oxygen and carbon dioxide that supports life on Earth. Clouds, lightening and other visible atmospheric affects are contained within this layer, as well. According to NASA, it extends five to nine miles high, gradually decreasing in temperature and gaseous concentrations as the elevation rises.
Stratosphere
The stratosphere is located immediately above the troposphere. Temperatures gradually rise within the Stratosphere due to the affects of the ozone layer, which is located within this layer of the atmosphere. The ozone absorbs UV light, which produces heat. This process is vital to life on Earth, as without the ozone layer to protect us, UV light would damage plant and animal DNA, leading to rapid mutation and cancer.
Mesosphere
The mesosphere is immediately above the mtratosphere and it extends an additional 53 miles into space. Temperatures fall once again, reaching a low of -93 Celsius. When meteors enter Earth's atmosphere, they usually burn in the mesosphere before reaching the layers below. In the North and South pole, clouds can form in this layer, which is unique to those regions of the planet. These clouds are known as noctilucent clouds and they are five times higher in the sky than those typically seen in more temperate climates.
Thermosphere
The final layer of the atmosphere is the thermosphere, so named because of its high temperatures. The thermosphere reaches 371 miles high and at its highest point can have temperatures over 1,700 Celsius. This is due to the heat of the sun and with no other layers of atmosphere standing between it and the sun's energy, it grows to increasingly high temperatures.