Which of the following layers of the Earth's atmosphere is characterized by a continuous decrease in temperature with height and contains the ozone layer within its upper boundary?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the tropopause up to about 50 kilometers. Unlike the underlying layer where temperature drops with altitude, the stratosphere experiences an increase in temperature with height due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer located in its upper region. The troposphere features decreasing temperatures throughout its depth, while the mesosphere lies above the stratopause. Tropospheric weather phenomena are generally absent in the stable stratospheric layer.