What is atmosphere? 

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Pixabay
   

The air around Earth is called the atmosphere.
This blanket or five thin layers of gas lets the sun's rays in easily, but keeps them from escaping. It contains the air we breathe, protects us from blasts of heat and radiation from the sun.  Our atmosphere keeps Earth warm during the day and cool at night. It forms our weather patterns and climate.   It is essential for the survival of all life on Earth. 

As one goes higher and higher into the atmosphere, there are fewer and fewer air particles. In outer space, it is rare to find any air particles. For this reason, humans are unable to live on the moon or other planets in our solar system.

What are the different layers in the atmosphere called?


Exosphere - This thin layer is 10,000 km above the Earth's surface. Rockets enter the exposphere.
Thermosphere - The thermosphere is also very thin. Temperatures can get extremely hot here. Satellites enter the thermosphere.
Mesosphere - The mesosphere is where most meteors burn up upon entry. The coldest place on Earth is at the top of the mesosphere. Weather balloons enter the mesosphere.
Stratosphere - The stratosphere gets warmer the further away you get from the Earth. It absorbs heat from the ozone layer. Supersonic jet planes enter the stratosphere.
Troposphere - The troposphere is where we live. It is heated by the surface of the Earth.  To avoid turbulence and bad weather, larger planes will sometimes fly in the upper boundary of the troposphere.