Author Question: Why are temperatures in the thermosphere not strictly comparable to those experienced near Earth's ... (Read 95 times)

piesebel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 565
Why are temperatures in the thermosphere not strictly comparable to those experienced near Earth's surface?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The atmosphere is divided vertically into four layers on the basis of temperature. List and describe these layers in order, from lowest to highest. In which layer does practically all of our weather occur?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



TDubDCFL

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 357
Answer to Question 1

Temperature is defined in terms of the average speed at which molecules move. Because the gases of the thermosphere are moving at very high speeds, the temperature is very high. But the gases are so sparse that, collectively, they possess only an insignificant quantity of heat, whereas the gases near Earth's surface are far more concentrated.

Answer to Question 2

The lowermost layer is the troposphere. Here, temperature decreases with an increase in altitude. This is the layer where essentially all important weather phenomena occur. The next layer is the stratosphere. In this layer, the temperature remains constant to a height of about 20 kilometers and then begins an increase that continues until the stratopause, at a height of about 50 kilometers. The ozone layer is concentrated in this layer. The third layer is the mesosphere, where temperatures again decrease with height. The fourth layer is the thermosphere, which has no well-defined upper limit. It contains only a tiny fraction of the atmosphere's mass. In this layer, temperatures increase due to the absorption of shortwave high-energy solar radiation by atoms of oxygen and nitrogen.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

One way to reduce acid reflux is to lose two or three pounds. Most people lose weight in the belly area first when they increase exercise, meaning that heartburn can be reduced quickly by this method.

Did you know?

About 3.2 billion people, nearly half the world population, are at risk for malaria. In 2015, there are about 214 million malaria cases and an estimated 438,000 malaria deaths.

Did you know?

Patients who cannot swallow may receive nutrition via a parenteral route—usually, a catheter is inserted through the chest into a large vein going into the heart.

Did you know?

Amphetamine poisoning can cause intravascular coagulation, circulatory collapse, rhabdomyolysis, ischemic colitis, acute psychosis, hyperthermia, respiratory distress syndrome, and pericarditis.

Did you know?

In the United States, congenital cytomegalovirus causes one child to become disabled almost every hour. CMV is the leading preventable viral cause of development disability in newborns. These disabilities include hearing or vision loss, and cerebral palsy.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library