What are the characteristics of the four main layers of the atmosphere?

1) (4-12 miles high)The troposphere is the first layer above the surface and contains half of the Earth's atmosphere. Weather occurs in this layer.

2) (31 miles high)Many jet aircrafts fly in the stratosphere because it is very stable. Also, the ozone layer absorbs harmful rays from the Sun.

3) (53 miles high)Meteors or rock fragments burn up in the mesosphere.

4) (430 miles high)The Thermosphere is a layer with auroras. It is also where the space shuttle orbits.

5) (6,200 miles high)The atmosphere merges into space in the extremely thin exosphere. This is the upper limit of our atmosphere.