Thermosphere

Thermosphere

Thermosphere: The thermosphere of a terrestrial planet is the fourth and final member of the atmosphere. On Earth, the thermosphere starts atop the mesosphere at approximately 85 kilometers above mean sea level. The upper limit of the thermosphere is reasonably presumed to terminate approximately 95 kilometers above mean sea level. In fact, most of Earth’s satellites orbit the planet within the thermosphere. This part of the atmosphere comprises high ultraviolet rays and X-rays from the sun. This radiation produces high heat conditions, up to 2,000 degrees celsius. Although the thinness of the air brings the temperatures back down to items or beings within the thermosphere. The thermosphere is currently considered the final member of the atmosphere. However, geologists and physicists have modernly defined other layers of the Earth’s gaseous envelope, beyond the thermosphere. These are the exosphere and ionosphere.

Similar Posts

  • Unconfined Aquifer

    Unconfined Aquifer Unconfined Aquifer: In the hydrogeology branch of geology, an unconfined aquifer is an aquifer that has a water table. In fact, an unconfined aquifer can only be the uppermost hydrogeologic unit and is particularly one that has no hydraulic head (or pressure) that is equal to atmospheric pressure. To illustrate, depth to groundwater…

  • Tsunami

    Tsunami Tsunami: In the seismology branch of geology, a tsunami is an oceanic wave (gravitational) that is produced by seismic activity on the ocean floor. Common triggers of tsunamis are large-scale short­ duration earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other submarine earth movements such as subsidence and slope failure.

  • Seiche

    Seiche Definition The term “Seiche” in geology refers to a wave-oscillation, that comes from any surface body of water, that is initiated by an earthquake or changes in atmospheric pressure. For instance, the rippling waters of a lake or at the bay of an ocean.

  • Potentiometric Surface

    Potentiometric Surface The term “Potentiometric Surface” means the hydrogeological surface that represents the total hydraulic head of groundwater from a confined aquifer or semi-confined aquifer that’s under pressure. The Potentiometric Surface of an aquifer is defined by the level to which water will rise in a groundwater monitoring well (that’s exclusively screened within said aquifer).

  • |

    Geologic Time Scale

    Geologic Time Scale The Geologic Time Scale is an international system used by geologists to classify and identify major geologic events and formations. The geologic timescale essentially categories the earth’s entire geologic (and biologic) history, within a series of defined eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages. Updates & Maintenance The geologic time scale is continuously…