Which level of the atmosphere contains the majority of the weather phenomena?

The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere and is where nearly all weather phenomena occur. This layer extends from the Earth's surface up to about 8 to 15 kilometers (5 to 9 miles), depending on latitude and weather conditions. The troposphere is characterized by a cooling temperature profile with altitude, which supports the formation of clouds, precipitation, and various weather systems such as storms and winds.

The presence of water vapor, which is a key ingredient for clouds and precipitation, is highest in the troposphere. This layer also contains most of the atmospheric mass, making it dense and conducive to weather activities. As one ascends to higher atmospheric levels like the stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere, the weather-related phenomena diminish significantly. In these layers, temperatures increase with altitude (in the stratosphere) or the conditions become increasingly thin and less dynamic (in the mesosphere and thermosphere), which does not support traditional weather patterns. Hence, the troposphere is essential for understanding and predicting weather.