What are the five layers of Earth's atmosphere?

The selection presented identifies the five layers of Earth's atmosphere as troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere. However, to clarify, the academic consensus recognizes the atmosphere's primary vertical structure according to distinct thermal and compositional gradients.

The correct layers are indeed the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The troposphere is where most weather phenomena occur, extending up to about 8-15 kilometers above Earth's surface. The stratosphere sits above the troposphere and contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation. The mesosphere is the middle layer where temperatures decrease with altitude. The thermosphere, characterized by very high temperatures, is where the ionosphere is located—a region crucial for radio communication due to its ability to reflect radio waves. Finally, the exosphere is the outermost layer, transitioning into space, and is primarily occupied by hydrogen and helium atoms.

Therefore, while the option selected includes the ionosphere, which is a significant part of the thermosphere, it does not accurately list the layers of Earth's atmosphere as they are traditionally defined.