Layers of Atmosphere YouTube Lecture Handouts

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Layers of Atmosphere - 4 Layers in Thermal & 2 in Magneto-Electrical Structure

Layers of Atmosphere

This lecture focuses on the thermal and magneto-electrical layers of atmosphere which include troposphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, ionosphere, plasmasphere and magnetosphere. Dr. Manishika Jain tries to explain the two criterias for layers of atmosphere in a simple manner.

Illustration: Layers of Atmosphere
Illustration: Layers of Atmosphere

Troposphere

  • Lowest layer of our atmosphere.
  • Extends to about 10 km
  • All weather
  • Most clouds
  • 99% of the water vapor

Stratosphere

  • Extends from the top of the troposphere to 50 km.
  • Ozone layer
  • Stratosphere gets warmer the higher
  • Commercial passenger jets fly in lower stratosphere,
  • Jet streams flow near the border between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Mesosphere

  • Extends upward to a height of about 85 km.
  • Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere.
  • Coldest temperatures about -90° C found near the top of this layer.
  • Far too thin to breathe
  • Pressure at the bottom well below 1% atm

Thermosphere

  • High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun absorbed
  • Raising temperature to hundreds to thousands of degrees.
  • Satellites might orbit within the thermosphere
  • Energy coming from the Sun influence height and temperature.
  • Top between 500 and 1,000 km.
  • Temperatures from 500° C to 2,000° C.
  • Northern Lights and Southern Lights

Exosphere

  • Thermosphere uppermost layer of atmosphere
  • Very, very, thin air
  • No clear-cut upper boundary with space.
  • Top of the exosphere between 100,000 km and 190,000 km

Ionosphere

  • Not a distinct layer.
  • High-energy radiation from the Sun knocked electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules.
Illustration: Ionosphere
Illustration: Ionosphere
Illustration: Ionosphere

Manishika