Earth’s Atmosphere — Explore Five Layers in 3D
Explore Earth’s five atmospheric layers in 3D, from the exosphere to the troposphere. Follow satellites, meteors, a weather balloon and an aircraft above the clouds.
Exosphere
600–10,000 km · Artificial satellite
The atmosphere gradually merges into space. A satellite crosses above the curved blue horizon.
Thermosphere
85–600 km · Space station · 400 km
The space station orbits in this extremely thin air. Auroras occur here, mainly near the poles.
Mesosphere
50–85 km · Meteor ablation
Most small meteoroids ablate here. Watch the streak brighten, shorten and fade before reaching the lower atmosphere.
Stratosphere
12–50 km · Weather balloon · 28 km
The stratosphere’s ozone layer absorbs much of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. A weather balloon rises above most clouds.
Troposphere
0–12 km · Aircraft · 10.5 km
Most weather occurs here: clouds, rain and lightning. Airliners cruise near the top of this layer.