Questions and Answers
What is the troposphere?
The troposphere starts at the Earth's surface and extends 8 to 14.5 kilometers high. This part of the atmosphere is the most dense and almost all weather occurs in this region.
What is significant about the stratosphere?
The stratosphere starts just above the troposphere and extends to 50 kilometers high. It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs and scatters solar ultraviolet radiation.
Describe the mesosphere.
The mesosphere starts just above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers high. Meteors burn up in this layer.
What occurs in the thermosphere?
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What is the ionosphere?
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What is the exosphere?
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Study Notes
Troposphere
- Extends from Earth’s surface to 8-14.5 kilometers (5-9 miles) high.
- Most dense layer of the atmosphere.
- Almost all weather phenomena occur in this region.
Stratosphere
- Begins just above the troposphere and reaches up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high.
- Contains the ozone layer, crucial for absorbing and scattering solar ultraviolet radiation.
Mesosphere
- Starts above the stratosphere and extends to 85 kilometers (53 miles) high.
- This layer is where meteors disintegrate upon entry, resulting in shooting stars.
Thermosphere
- Ranges from above the mesosphere to 600 kilometers (372 miles) high.
- Home to the auroras and where satellites orbit.
Ionosphere
- Extends from approximately 30 miles above the surface to around 600 miles, overlapping with the mesosphere and thermosphere.
- Composed of electrons and ionized atoms; size varies with solar activity.
- Divided into regions D, E, and F based on wavelengths of absorbed solar radiation.
- Essential for radio communication and the Sun-Earth interaction chain.
Exosphere
- The outermost layer of the atmosphere, extending from the top of the thermosphere up to 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles).
- Acts as a transitional zone to outer space.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the layers of the atmosphere with these flashcards. Learn about the troposphere, stratosphere, and more, along with their characteristics and importance in weather and climate.
