What is the thermosphere?
The thermosphere is one of the highest layers of Earth’s atmosphere. It is located at extreme altitudes, closest to space. Here, the air is extremely thin, and temperatures can rise to thousands of degrees!
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Where Does It Begin and Where Does It End?
The thermosphere begins at approximately 80 kilometers above Earth’s surface and can extend up to 500 kilometers. This layer is where spacecraft begin to orbit, meaning it is the region where satellites and the International Space Station are located.
What Happens There?
- Colorful lights such as the Northern Lights form in the thermosphere.
- Because the air is so thin in this region, sound cannot travel.
- Energy from the Sun heats this layer intensely, but we do not feel it on the ground because there are very few air molecules.
- Scientists use this layer to study interesting phenomena such as gravity waves and ionospheric disturbances.
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Why Is It Important?
The thermosphere protects Earth from harmful radiation in space. Additionally, GPS, television, and internet signals passing through this layer can be affected. For this reason, scientists carefully study this layer.
