which layer of the atmosphere is the coldest? what happens to meteors in this layer?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The coldest layer of the atmosphere is the mesosphere. It is located above the stratosphere and extends from about 50 kilometers to 85 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. Within this layer, temperatures can drop as low as -90°C (-130°F). The mesosphere is characterized by a decrease in temperature with altitude, and it is where the temperature is lowest in the entire atmosphere.
Meteors typically burn up when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere, and most of this occurs in the mesosphere. As meteors travel at high speeds through the atmosphere, they compress the air in front of them, causing intense friction and heating. This heat causes the meteor to vaporize, often creating a visible streak of light known as a meteor or “shooting star.” The majority of the vaporization happens in the mesosphere because it is the region where meteors encounter the highest atmospheric density. The higher up, in the thermosphere and exosphere, the air density is too low for significant friction to occur, and the meteors would not burn up in the same way.
The mesosphere is also responsible for the majority of meteoric disintegration, and this is why the sky often appears lit up with bright streaks when meteors enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The burning of meteors in this region prevents larger pieces from reaching the Earth’s surface, although some very small fragments or meteoroids may survive the journey, landing as meteorites.
In summary, the mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures plummeting to extreme lows. It is also the main location where meteors burn up due to intense friction and heat as they pass through Earth’s atmosphere.