Which atmospheric layer is located above the mesosphere and is known for the occurrence of auroras?

The atmospheric layer located above the mesosphere and known for the occurrence of auroras is the thermosphere. This layer starts at about 85 kilometers (53 miles) above the Earth's surface and extends up to about 600 kilometers (372 miles) or higher. Within the thermosphere, solar radiation is absorbed, leading to a significant increase in temperature. This absorption of solar energy creates a highly energized environment where charged particles from the sun interact with the Earth's magnetic field, giving rise to the beautiful natural light displays known as auroras, specifically the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and the aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere.

The stratosphere, found below the thermosphere, contains the ozone layer but does not host auroras. The exosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, lying above the thermosphere, but it is a transitional zone to outer space where the atmosphere is extremely thin and does not facilitate the conditions necessary for auroras. The troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere, is where weather occurs but is also not a site for auroras.