Hear protests erupting somewhere far away (12)
I believe the answer is:
stratosphere
'somewhere far away' is the definition.
(the stratosphere is high up in the sky)
'hear protests erupting' is the wordplay.
'erupting' indicates an anagram.
'hear'+'protests'='hearprotests'
'hearprotests' anagrammed gives 'STRATOSPHERE'.
(Other definitions for stratosphere that I've seen before include "Atmospheric layer" , "Zone high above earth" , "High level above earth" , "Region about ten to fifty km above the earth" , "Area containing ozone layer" .)