In the darkest regions of deep space, the temperature is a chilly -450° Fahrenheit. Closer to our Sun, temperatures reach thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. What makes Earth's climate so moderate? Separating Earth from the extreme and inhospitable climate of space is a 500-mile-thick cocoon of gases called the atmosphere.
All planets have an atmosphere, a layer of gases that surrounds them. The Sun's atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, while Earth's is made up primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide, ozone, and other gases are also present. These gases keep our planet warm and protect us from the direct effects of the Sun's radiation. Without this regulation, Earth could not sustain life.
The structure of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is made up of several layers: the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere, and exosphere. Closest to Earth is the troposphere. Most of the clouds you see in the sky are found in the troposphere, and this is the layer of the atmosphere we associate with weather. Extending up to 10 miles above Earth's surface, the troposphere contains a variety of gases: water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others. These gases help retain heat, a portion of which is then radiated back to warm the surface of Earth.
Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, which includes the ozone layer. The stratosphere extends from about 10 to 30 miles above the surface of Earth. Ozone molecules, which are concentrated in this layer, absorb ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and protect us from its harmful effects.
Thirty to 50 miles above the surface is the mesosphere, the coldest part of the atmosphere. Above the mesosphere, in a layer called the ionosphere (also called the thermosphere), things start to heat up. Temperatures in the ionosphere, which extends about 50 to 180 miles from the surface of Earth, can reach up to several thousand degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond the ionosphere is the exosphere, which extends to roughly 500 miles above the surface of Earth. This is the outermost layer of the atmosphere, the transition zone into space.
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snapdropsix Community Member 
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