Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere, which is indeed the coldest layer of Earth's atmosphere. As meteors enter this layer at high speeds, the intense friction generated by their interaction with air molecules causes them to heat up rapidly, leading to incandescence and disintegration. Despite the low temperatures, the density of air at this altitude is sufficient to create the friction needed for the meteor to burn up. Thus, the mesosphere effectively acts as a shield, protecting the Earth's surface from most meteoroids.
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