UPPER ATMOSPHERES Meaning and
Definition
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The term "upper atmospheres" refers to the regions of Earth's atmosphere that are above the lower atmosphere, extending higher into the sky. It encompasses the layers of the atmosphere that are located above the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of the atmosphere extending from the Earth's surface up to around 6 to 10 miles (10 to 16 kilometers) in altitude.
The upper atmospheres can generally be divided into two main layers: the stratosphere and the mesosphere. The stratosphere is found directly above the troposphere, extending up to approximately 31 miles (50 kilometers). This layer is characterized by a steady increase in temperature with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer, which absorbs and dissipates a portion of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation.
Beyond the stratosphere lies the mesosphere, which stretches up to around 53 miles (85 kilometers) above the Earth's surface. In this layer, temperatures start to decrease with altitude, reaching their coldest temperatures in the whole atmosphere. The mesosphere is also known for its mesospheric clouds or noctilucent clouds, which appear as thin, glowing formations at very high altitudes during summer nights.
The upper atmospheres play a crucial role in various atmospheric phenomena and processes. They influence global climate patterns, absorb harmful radiation, and facilitate the transportation of atmospheric pollutants. Furthermore, these layers are vital for satellite communication and space exploration as they contain the ionosphere, a region with ionized particles that reflect and refract radio waves, enabling long-distance radio communications.
Common Misspellings for UPPER ATMOSPHERES
- upper atmosphers
- upper atmoshere
- ypper atmospheres
- hpper atmospheres
- jpper atmospheres
- ipper atmospheres
- 8pper atmospheres
- 7pper atmospheres
- uoper atmospheres
- ulper atmospheres
- u-per atmospheres
- u0per atmospheres
- upoer atmospheres
- upler atmospheres
- up-er atmospheres
- up0er atmospheres
- uppwr atmospheres
- uppsr atmospheres
- uppdr atmospheres
- upprr atmospheres
Etymology of UPPER ATMOSPHERES
The word "upper atmospheres" does not have a specific etymology, as it is a combination of two separate words: "upper" and "atmospheres".
The word "upper" can be traced back to the Old English word "uppere", which means higher in position or situated above. It can also be derived from the Old High German word "obaro", which has a similar meaning.
The word "atmospheres" comes from the Greek word "atmos", meaning vapor or steam, combined with the Greek word "sphaira", meaning sphere. The term "atmosphere" originally referred to the gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth.
Therefore, "upper atmospheres" refers to the higher regions or layers of the Earth's gaseous envelope.
