In which atmospheric layer do meteors burn up, and where temperature decreases with increasing altitude?

The correct choice indicates that meteors burn up in the mesosphere, which is indeed the case. This atmospheric layer is located between 50 to 85 kilometers (about 31 to 53 miles) above the Earth's surface. In this zone, the air pressure is much lower, and temperatures decrease with increasing altitude, reaching extremely low temperatures at the upper boundary.

Meteors, which are small fragments of space debris, enter Earth's atmosphere at high speeds. As they descend through the atmosphere, the friction generated by their rapid movement causes them to heat up and ultimately disintegrate in the mesosphere. This is the point at which most meteors produce the bright streaks of light that we see in the night sky, commonly referred to as "shooting stars."

In contrast, the other atmospheric layers have different characteristics. For instance, in the thermosphere, temperature increases significantly with altitude due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation, which is why it would not be the correct choice. The stratosphere is characterized by a temperature inversion where temperatures stabilize or even increase with altitude, primarily due to the ozone layer absorbing ultraviolet radiation. Lastly, while the troposphere is where most weather occurs and temperatures do decrease with altitude, meteors do