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

  • Seismology

    Seismology Seismology: (seis·mol·o·gy) a branch of geology and geophysics that relates to earthquakes, including but not limited to their causes, effects, hazards, and mitigation techniques.  Seismologists at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) use cutting-edge technology to measure seismic wave properties and geological hazards that trigger them or are triggered by them. In turn, seismology…

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

    Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Volatile Organic Compounds are toxic organic chemicals with higher tendencies to change from liquid to vapor phase under typical earth pressures and temperatures, and usually have little-to-no water solubility characteristics. VOCs are commonly found within hydrocarbon-based fuel additives, industrial solvents, refrigerants, hydraulic fluids, degreasers, and more. These…

  • Liquid Limit (LL)

    Liquid Limit (LL) “Liquid Limit (LL)” in the field of geological engineering, refers to the upper limit of the “plastic state.” This is a separation of the plastic phase and viscous liquid phase when measuring soil consistency. Mathematically, it is the water content (basing on the percent of dry weight), at which two sections of…

  • Consolidation

    Consolidation “Consolidation” in geology refers to the gradual or slow reduction in the volume of a soil sample (representing a larger soil mass), and the increase in density in response to an applied increasing load, or compressive stress.

  • Seismic Risk Definition

    Seismic Risk Definition Seismic risk is the probability that a subject site will be adversely affected by any seismic hazard, such as an earthquake. Seismic risk tends to increase in areas that are more earthquake-prone and vulnerable to damage. And vulnerability refers to the potential impact on people, as well as properties. For instance, places…