Troposphere: The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface to about 7-15 kilometers (4.3-9.3 miles) in altitude. It is characterized by:
* Decreasing temperature with altitude: This is known as the environmental lapse rate.
* Presence of weather: Nearly all weather phenomena, like clouds, rain, snow, and wind, occur in the troposphere.
* Contains most of the atmospheric mass: The troposphere holds about 80% of the Earth's atmospheric mass.
* Contains most of the atmospheric water vapor: This is crucial for the formation of clouds and precipitation.
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