How are the layers of the atmosphere classified?

It's true that there's a lot of surface and meridional variation in temperature, however the pattern of the gradient is constant enough to distinguish layers. From the ground up: 1. read more

Earths atmosphere contains four main layers classified by temperature:the troposphere,stratosphere,mesosphere,and thermosphere. read more

2. In the stratosphere, the temperature actually warms moving upward, because of absorption of UV radiation by the ozone layer. 3. In the mesosphere, we are above the ozone layer, and temperature again drops with height. Temperatures can drop to -100 degrees C. 4. Finally, in the thermosphere, the temperature rises again. read more