Earth's atmosphere has four distinct layers, as well as a rarefied outer layer that can extend as far as 10,000 kilometers (6,214 miles) from the planet in the absence of solar wind. The lowest atmospheric layer is the ​troposphere​, and the layer just above that is the ​stratosphere​. Factors that define these as two separate layers include differences in air pressure, temperature, temperature gradient, wind speed and wind direction.

The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the ​tropopause​, and it isn't constant. It's about eight kilometers (five miles) above the ground at the poles and about twice that at the equator. The tropopause is an ​isotherm -​ a region of stable temperature - below which all of the planet's weather takes place. The tropopause typically marks the uppermost limit of cloud activity; instead of rising above this isotherm, large storm clouds typically spread out horizontally in an anvil shape.

A very vigorous cumulonimbus cloud – a thunderstorm – may, however, sometimes penetrate the lowest level of the stratosphere. Strong updrafts within the storm can cause a bulge above the tropopause-marking anvil cloud, a feature known as an “overshooting top.” Certain types of clouds - called nacreous or mother-of-pearl clouds - do form in the stratosphere, but usually only at latitudes between 60 and 90 degrees and only in the winter.

Weather patterns occur in the troposphere because the air near the ground is warmer than the air at higher altitudes; this phenomenon is a result of the fact that the ground absorbs and radiates heat from the sun. Because of this negative temperature gradient with respect to altitude, warm air can rise and create a convection current that produces winds and clouds.

In the stratosphere, which extends to an altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles), the temperature increases with altitude as a result of the fact that the ozone layer in the upper stratosphere absorbs sunlight and radiates heat downward. The increase of temperature with height in the stratosphere – the opposite pattern compared to the troposphere – creates a stable zone that prevents convection, which is the reason why active weather is basically capped at the tropopause. The tropopause is the region of constant temperature in which the gradient direction changes. You can think of it as a sort of roof for our planet’s weather.

The propensity for warm, moisture-laden air to rise and cool air to fall in the troposphere creates winds, clouds and precipitation. Because of local variations in temperature and air pressure, these winds can be irregular and, at times, extreme.

In the stratosphere, where the air pressure is much lower and a ceiling of warmer air prevents convection currents from forming, conditions are more stable. There is virtually no turbulence here, which is caused by vertical air movements, and the winds that do exist, although strong, are steady and blow in a horizontal direction. Commercial aircraft fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid turbulence.

The troposphere contains about 75% of the gases in the atmosphere, and the stratosphere, which has a larger volume, contains about 19% of atmospheric gases. The air pressure in the stratosphere is accordingly lower: on average, the pressure in the stratosphere is only about 10% or less of the pressure at sea level.

The ozone layer, located at the top of the stratosphere, is one of the most important features of this atmospheric layer. Besides creating a ceiling of warm air that prevents convection currents from forming, it filters out ultraviolet radiation from the sun that would be damaging to life at the surface.