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How high does the troposphere extend above Earth’s surface?

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Wispy cirrus clouds stretch across a bright blue sky above trees and a river at Pinawa Dam Provincial Park in Manitoba, Canada, with sunlight illuminating the scene. — Atmosphere The atmospheres of planets in the solar system are composed of various gases, particulates, and liquids. They are also dynamic places that redistribute heat and other forms of energy. On Earth, the atmosphere provides critical ingredients for living things. Here, feathery cirrus clouds drift across the deep blue sky over Pinawa Dam Provincial Park, near Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada.

The troposphere, which is the lowest region of the atmosphere, extends approximately 10 to 18 kilometers (6 to 11 miles) above the Earth’s surface. Its upper boundary is defined by the tropopause, which separates the troposphere from the overlying stratosphere.1