Which of the following statements about the stratosphere is true?

• A. It lies below the tropopause and above the mesosphere.
• B. It lies above the tropopause and extends to about 160,000 feet.
• C. It is primarily a turbulent region with the most weather.
• D. It is the lowest atmospheric layer.

Answer: (B)

The stratosphere sits above the troposphere, separated by the tropopause. Weather and most turbulence occur in the troposphere, while the stratosphere is much more stable with minimal vertical mixing. It begins at the tropopause and extends upward to about 50 kilometers, which is roughly 160,000 feet. That makes the statement true because it correctly describes its position above the tropopause and its approximate altitude extent. It doesn’t lie below the tropopause, it’s not the region with the most weather, and it isn’t the lowest atmospheric layer.