ScienceJuly 17, 2026

thermosphere

THUR-muh-sfeer

Definition

The layer of Earth's atmosphere that is located above the mesosphere and below the exosphere, characterized by high temperatures due to the absorption of solar radiation.

Etymology

The word derives from the Greek 'thermos' meaning heat and 'sphaira' meaning globe or ball, reflecting its role as a high-temperature atmospheric layer.

In the news

The article uses the term to identify the specific layer of Earth's atmosphere where the International Space Station orbits, noting that this layer expands and contracts in response to solar activity.

The International Space Station loses about 100 meters of altitude a day and must be shoved back up by a docked Russian thruster roughly once a month to keep from falling

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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