In which atmospheric layer does weather predominantly occur?

Weather predominantly occurs in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. This layer extends from the surface up to about 7 to 20 kilometers in altitude, depending on geographic location and weather conditions. The troposphere is where most of the atmosphere's mass is found, including water vapor, which is essential for cloud formation and precipitation.

The thermal characteristics of the troposphere contribute to its dynamic weather patterns; as one moves higher in this layer, temperature generally decreases, leading to the formation of various weather phenomena such as storms, rain, snow, and wind patterns. Because of its proximity to the Earth's surface where most life exists, changes in the troposphere have immediate effects on environmental conditions that affect ecosystems and human activities.

In contrast, the stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere are layers above the troposphere where weather events and phenomena are much less pronounced, primarily because they contain significantly less water vapor and have more stable atmospheric conditions. For instance, the stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which protects against harmful UV radiation but does not contribute to weather. The mesosphere is primarily known for meteoroids burning up upon entering this layer, and the thermosphere is characterized by high temperatures