Which Is the Coldest and Hottest Layer of the Atmosphere

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Detailed Solution

The coldest layer of the atmosphere is the mesosphere, and the hottest layer is the thermosphere.

Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere

The atmosphere is divided into several layers based on temperature and altitude. These are:

Layer	Altitude Range	Temperature Feature
Troposphere	0–12 km	Temperature decreases with height
Stratosphere	12–50 km	Temperature increases due to ozone
Mesosphere	50–85 km	Coldest layer
Thermosphere	85–600 km	Hottest layer
Exosphere	Above 600 km	Transition to outer space

Explanation

Mesosphere: Temperature drops up to -90°C. It is where meteors burn up due to friction with air molecules.
Thermosphere: Temperature rises up to 1500°C or more because of absorption of solar radiation. Satellites orbit in this layer.

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