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Glite Dictionary
thermosphere

thermosphere

2 9.5
A high layer of Earth's air where temperature rises and bright lights from space appear
  • noun
  • /ˈθɜrməˌsfɪr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : termosfera
  • The thermosphere is the highest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, located above the mesosphere.

Examples

  • That puts it in what's known as the thermosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere which is incredibly under dense.

  • Above the mesosphere is the thermosphere.

    Blog text (2)

  • Aurorae are in the lower part of the thermosphere, and the ISS is in the middle of the thermosphere.

    Blog text (2)

  • At altitudes above about 100 km, the absorption of solar photons by both molecular and atomic oxygen and by molecular nitrogen heats the entire thermosphere.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach up to 2,500 degrees Celsius due to solar radiation.

  • Satellites orbit within the thermosphere, where they experience fewer atmospheric drag effects.

How High

exosphere
  • Specialized
1 9.9
thermosphere
  • Specialized
2 9.5
mesosphere
  • Specialized
2 9.5
stratosphere
  • Specialized
23 6.5
troposphere
  • Specialized
8 7.4

Surface Forms

thermosphere singular
thermospheres plural

Morphology

thermosphere = sphere (semi-transparent) = thermo + sphere

The scientific meaning is related to heat and a spherical atmospheric layer, but the specialized meteorological sense is not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

The word thermosphere combines thermo- meaning 'heat' and -sphere meaning 'globe' or 'ball'. So the thermosphere is the high layer of air around Earth that becomes very hot, which is why its name means a 'heat globe'.