+ Visit NASA.gov + Advanced Search   + About the Server   + Animation List   + How to Use the Server   + RSS Feeds   + Podcasts   + Opportunities Previous Animation Next Animation Earth's Atmosphere Layers: Global View The Earth's layers of atmosphere differ in chemical composition and temperature. They combine to create a protective sheild that maintains our delicate energy balance essential for life on Earth. Most weather occures in the nearest layer, the troposphere (0-7 miles). The stratosphere is the level where jet airliners fly and the ozone layer resides (7-30 miles). Beyond that is the coldest part of the atmosphere, the mesosphere where only large helium balloons fly (30-50 miles). Finally, the thermosphere gradually fades into space (50-180 miles).    This is the standard definition version of the Earth's Atmosphere Layers - Global MPEG. Duration: 14.0 seconds Available formats:   320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   1 MB   150x112     JPEG         2 KB   75x56         JPEG         1 KB   320x240     JPEG         6 KB   320x240 (30 fps) X-FLV       494 KB How to play our movies Animation Number: 10015 Completed: 2001-03-25 Animator: Susan Twardy (HTSI) (Lead) Writer: Erica Drezek (HTSI) Goddard TV Tape: G2001-022 Keywords: DLESE >> Atmospheric science GCMD >> EARTH SCIENCE >> Atmosphere     Please give credit for this item to NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab Back to Top + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Reproduction Guidelines NASA Official: Content Contact: Curator: