Exosphere: what it is and characteristics

protection click fraud

The exosphere is the name of the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere from the surface, being the one that precedes outer space.

It is located above the thermosphere right after the intermediate layer called the thermopause.

Features

exosphere
exosphere location

The exosphere is about a thousand kilometers high from the Earth's surface.

However, the distance can vary according to the Sun's activity cycle, causing the exosphere to reach about 500 kilometers in altitude.

Some scientists don't consider the exosphere as a layer of the atmosphere. Thus, it can also be considered as part of the thermosphere or a part of outer space.

Considering this distance from the exosphere in relation to the Earth's surface, it receives more influence from the force of the Sun's pressure than from Earth's gravity.

The exosphere is extremely rarefied which makes collisions between the molecules present rare.

The gases found in the exosphere are helium and hydrogen. There we find no air to breathe and the temperature can reach up to 1000 °C.

instagram story viewer

The exosphere is a region far away from Earth, that's where artificial satellites orbit.

Atmosphere layers

In addition to the troposphere, the Earth's atmosphere is also formed by other layers:

Troposphere: The lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, being the region in which we live and where meteorological phenomena occur.

Stratosphere: Layer that appears right after the transition layer with the troposphere, the tropopause. Where is the ozone layer.

mesosphere: Layer that appears after the stratosphere, about 85 kilometers long.

thermosphere: Largest layer of the Earth's atmosphere and extends up to 600 kilometers in altitude

Ionosphere: Upper layer of the thermosphere and remains charged with electrons and atoms ionized by solar radiation.

Want to know more about Earth's atmosphere? read:

  • Atmosphere of the Planets
  • What is Atmosphere?
  • Atmosphere layers
  • Earth Structure
Teachs.ru
Troposphere: what it is, characteristics and tropopause

Troposphere: what it is, characteristics and tropopause

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, being the region in which we live ...

read more
Mesosphere: what it is and characteristics

Mesosphere: what it is and characteristics

The mesosphere is one of the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, immediately below the thermosphere...

read more

Non-renewable energy source

THE non-renewable energy (or dirty energy) are those produced from energy sources that are deplet...

read more
instagram viewer