In which layer of the atmosphere do most weather phenomena occur?

Most weather phenomena occur in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere. This layer extends from the Earth's surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles) high, depending on geographical location and weather conditions. The troposphere is where all the weather we experience takes place, including clouds, rain, snow, and storms.

The presence of water vapor, along with the vertical mixing of air in this layer, contributes to the formation of various weather patterns. As you go higher in the atmosphere, the temperature generally decreases, which can lead to changes in weather, but these changes primarily originate in the troposphere.

In contrast, the stratosphere, which lies above the troposphere, is where the ozone layer is found, and it is relatively stable with minimal weather activity. The mesosphere, located above the stratosphere, features decreasing temperatures and is not characterized by weather phenomena. The exosphere, which is the outermost layer, transitions into space and has extremely thin air, making it unsuitable for weather formation. Therefore, the troposphere is indeed the layer where most weather events occur.