mesosphere

What exactly is the mesosphere?

The mesosphere is an atmospheric layer. The mesosphere exists between the stratosphere and the thermosphere.

The layer in the middle

Between the thermosphere and the stratosphere is the mesosphere. The term "meso" means "middle," and this is the highest layer of the atmosphere, where the gases are mixed together rather than layered by mass.

The thickness of the mesosphere is 22 miles (35 kilometres). You wouldn't be able to breathe in the mesosphere because the air is still thin. This layer, however, contains more gas than the thermosphere.

Have you ever witnessed a meteor shower, in which meteors explode and streak across the sky? Some people refer to them as shooting stars. These meteors are exploding in the mesosphere. Because there isn't much air in the exosphere and thermosphere, meteors pass through with little difficulty. However, when they reach the mesosphere, there are enough gases to cause friction and heat.