Thermosphere

The thermosphere is the layer of the earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere. Within this layer, ultraviolet radiation causes ionization.

The thermosphere, named from the Greek θερμός ("thermos") for heat, begins about 90 km above the earth. [Duxbury & Duxbury. Introduction to the World's Oceans. 5ed. (1997)] At these high altitudes, the residual atmospheric gases sort into strata according to molecular mass (see turbosphere). Thermospheric temperatures increase with altitude due to absorption of highly energetic solar radiation by the small amount of residual oxygen still present. Temperatures are highly dependent on solar activity, and can rise to 1,500°C. Radiation causes the atmosphere particles in this layer to become electrically charged (see ionosphere), enabling radio waves to bounce off and be received beyond the horizon. At the exosphere, beginning at 500 to 2,000 km above the earth's surface, the atmosphere mixes into space.

The few particles of gas in this area can reach 2,500°C (4532°F) during the day. Even though the temperature is so high, one would not feel warm in the thermosphere, because it is so near vacuum that there is not enough contact with the few atoms of gas to transfer much heat. A normal thermometer would read significantly below 0°C.

The upper region of this atmospheric layer is called the ionosphere.

The dynamics of the lower thermosphere (below about 120 km) are dominated by atmospheric tide, which is driven, in part, by the very significant diurnal heating. The atmospheric tide dissipates above this level since molecular concentrations do not support the coherent motion needed for fluid flow.

The International Space Station has a stable orbit within the upper part of the thermosphere, between 320 and 380 kilometres. The auroras also occur in the thermosphere.

See also

* Kármán Line
* Thermopause
* Ionosphere
* Van Allen Belt
* Troposphere

References