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Q117 (CDS-II/2012) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric structure Answer Verified

There are three distinct characters of temperature stratification of atmosphere around the Earth. Which one among the following is the correct arrangement of the layers (from the Earth's surface upwards)?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

The Earth's atmosphere is divided into distinct layers based on temperature stratification and lapse rates [2]. Starting from the Earth's surface and moving upwards, the correct sequence is the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere [3]. The troposphere is the lowermost layer, extending to an average height of 13 km, where temperature generally decreases with altitude [1]. Above the tropopause lies the stratosphere, extending up to 50 km; here, temperatures rise with height due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer [4]. Beyond the stratosphere and mesosphere is the thermosphere, which begins at approximately 80 km and extends to 700 km [3]. In the thermosphere, temperatures increase dramatically with altitude. Therefore, the correct arrangement from the surface upwards among the given options is Troposphere—Stratosphere—Thermosphere.

Sources

  1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Composition and Structure of Atmosphere > STRUCTURE OF THE ATMOSPHERE > p. 65
  2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 1: BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY > Structure of the Atmosphere > p. 7
  3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > 20.2. Structure of The Earth's Atmosphere > p. 274
  4. [4] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Stratosphere (12 to 50 km) > p. 275
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

NDA-II · 2009 · Q39 Relevance score: 3.95

Consider the following statements related to stratification of atmospheric layers: 1. All storms and cloudiness are restricted to stratosphere. 2. Cirrus clouds are formed on the top layers of troposphere. 3. Stratosphere is also an ‘isoclinal layer’. Which of the statements given above are correct ?

IAS · 1998 · Q109 Relevance score: 3.85

The correct sequence of different layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the Earth upwards is

NDA-II · 2013 · Q57 Relevance score: 3.62

Consider the following layers of the atmosphere: 1. Troposphere 2. Stratosphere 3. Mesosphere 4. Thermosphere Which one among the following is the correct sequence of the layers with increasing altitude from the Earth’s surface?

CDS-I · 2015 · Q13 Relevance score: 3.19

Arrange the following layers of atmosphere vertically from the surface of the Earth : 1. Mesosphere 2. Troposphere 3. Stratosphere 4. Thermosphere Select the correct answer using the code given below :

CDS-II · 2016 · Q33 Relevance score: 2.57

Which of the following statements concerning atmosphere of the Earth are correct? 1. In stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude. 2. In mesosphere, temperature decreases with altitude. 3. The lowest temperature of the atmosphere is recorded in the upper part of mesosphere. 4. Tropopause is an isothermal zone. Select the correct answer using the code given below.