The troposphere can be found between the ground and an altitude of 7 to 20 kilometers (4 to 12 miles). The lesser thickness is found at the Polar Regions, since colder temperatures lead to a decrease in gas volume. The vast majority of the world’s weather is formed in the troposphere and this layer also contains 80 percent of the atmosphere’s mass. The temperature within the troposphere drops with altitude, since it is essentially being warmed by the ground. The pressure also drops within the troposphere as altitude increases, and this explains why mountaineers require oxygen masks.
Credit: Sciencing
Picture credit: Google
