Top of Atmosphere

Vertical Composition and Structure of the Atmosphereย 

What is the atmosphere? The atmosphere is a gaseous layer that surrounds Earth and protects it from the vacuum of space. It comprises 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases. The atmosphere has five main layers: the exosphere, the thermosphere, the mesosphere, the stratosphere, and the troposphere. Composition of Atmosphere The composition of Earth’s …

Thermosphere

What is the Thermosphere?

The thermosphere is the fourth layer of the atmosphere (if counting from the Earth). It extends from the top of the mesosphere (80 km = 50 miles) to about 700 kilometers (440 miles) above Earthโ€™s surface, where the exosphere begins. The thermosphere is very hot because the Sunโ€™s ultraviolet radiation heats it. This layer contains …