Which statement accurately describes the thermosphere?

The thermosphere is accurately described as containing the ionosphere and being the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere. In this layer, temperatures can become extremely high, reaching up to 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit) or more, due to the absorption of high-energy solar radiation. The presence of the ionosphere is significant, as it is composed of ions and free electrons that play a crucial role in radio wave propagation and communication. This layer extends from about 80 kilometers (50 miles) to the edge of space, around 600 kilometers (375 miles) above the Earth.

Other statements do not accurately reflect characteristics of the thermosphere. For example, the coldest atmospheric layer is actually the mesosphere, not the thermosphere. Weather phenomena primarily occur within the troposphere, which is the layer below the stratosphere, and the ozone layer is found within the stratosphere, not in the thermosphere. Hence, the statement accurately capturing the features of the thermosphere is that it contains the ionosphere and is the outermost layer.