PET 2026 · Geography

Atmospheric layers and temperature trends

Follow the vertical profile from the ground upward

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MINDMAPS FOR UPSCPET 2026 · VISUAL REVISION

Atmospheric layers and temperature trends

Follow the vertical profile from the ground upward

Process flow
Earth's atmosphere by altitude
General temperature trends through the atmosphereExosphereThermosphere↑Mesosphere↓Stratosphere↑Troposphere↓Upward: greater altitude · Arrows: temperature trend
General temperature trends through the atmosphereSwipe sideways to explore the diagram.
  1. 1 · Troposphere

    • Lowest layer; contains most atmospheric water vapour and everyday weather.
    • Temperature generally falls with height.
    • Its upper boundary, the tropopause, varies in height with location and season.
  2. 2 · Stratosphere

    • Contains the ozone-rich region that absorbs much solar ultraviolet radiation.
    • Temperature generally rises with height because of this absorption.
    • This temperature structure suppresses strong vertical mixing.
  3. 3 · Mesosphere

    • Temperature falls again with increasing height.
    • Its upper boundary, the mesopause, is the coldest atmospheric region.
    • Many meteors ablate as they interact with atmospheric particles here.
  4. 4 · Thermosphere

    • Absorption of high-energy solar radiation raises kinetic temperature.
    • Very thin air means high temperature does not imply ordinary intense felt heat.
    • It overlaps much of the ionosphere; the two are defined by different properties.
  5. 5 · Exosphere

    • Outermost, extremely rarefied atmospheric region.
    • Particles are widely separated and collisions are infrequent.
    • There is a gradual transition into space, not a solid upper wall.
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Practise this concept · संबंधित प्रश्न

One visual, several questions. These links open the original paper at the matching question.

25 Oct · Shift 1 · 2026

Sources & study notes · स्रोत

Independent revision material, linked to the paper’s concepts. The question papers and answer-key status are available on OpenPYQ.