The mesosphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that lies between the stratosphere and the thermosphere, and it extends from about 50 to 85 km above the Earth's surface. In the mesosphere, the temperature decreases with increasing altitude. This is because the air in the mesosphere is very thin, and there are few molecules to absorb and retain heat. As a result, the mesosphere is the coldest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, with temperatures that can reach as low as -100°C. Therefore, the correct answer is D.