Temperatures decrease (get colder) with increasing altitude in the mesosphere. Click on image for full size (30 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

Temperature decreases with height throughout the mesosphere. The coldest temperatures in Earth's atmosphere, about -90° C (-130° F), are found near the top of this layer.

The air is much thinner (less dense) in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere below. There are fewer air molecules, including ozone molecules which play such an important role in heating the stratosphere, to absorb incoming solar electromagnetic radiation.

Carbon dioxide in the mesosphere also helps make this layer cold. CO₂ molecules absorb thermal energy (heat) from collisions with other molecules. The CO₂ releases some of that energy as photons in a process called radiative emission. Some of those photons travel upward into space, effectively carrying heat away from the mesosphere.

As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder. Click on image for full size (30 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

The top of the mesosphere is the coldest part of the atmosphere. It can get down to -90° C (-130° F) there! As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder.

The air is much thinner (less dense) in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere below. There are fewer air molecules to absorb incoming electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. That includes molecules of ozone, which absorb ultraviolet radiation and heat the stratosphere. In the mesosphere, the thin air and small amounts of ozone prevent the air from warming much.

Carbon dioxide in the mesosphere also helps make this layer cold. CO₂ molecules absorb heat energy when they bounce off of other molecules. The CO₂ releases some of that energy as photons in a process called radiative emission. Some of those photons travel upward into space. This carries heat away from the mesosphere.

As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder. Click on image for full size (30 Kb) Original artwork by Windows to the Universe staff (Randy Russell).

The top of the mesosphere is the coldest part of the atmosphere. It can get down to -90° C (-130° F) there! As you go higher in the mesosphere, the air gets colder.

The air is much thinner (less dense) in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere below. There are fewer air molecules to absorb incoming electromagnetic radiation from the Sun. That includes molecules of ozone, which absorb ultraviolet radiation and heat the stratosphere. In the mesosphere, the thin air and small amounts of ozone keep the air from warming much.