The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 11 letter word TROPOSPHERE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
R
O
P
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Atmospheric layer" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case atmospheric layer = troposphere.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TROPOSPHERE mean?
TROPOSPHERE noun- The lower levels of the atmosphere extending from the surface of the Earth or another celestial body up to the tropopause. It is characterized by convective air movements and a large vertical temperature change.