Meaning & use

thermosphere

noun·Advanced

The layer of Earth's atmosphere above the mesosphere, where temperatures rise sharply with altitude due to solar radiation.

See it in a sentence

The International Space Station orbits within the lower part of the thermosphere.

Auroras occur when charged particles interact with gases in the thermosphere.

A note on using this word

Despite its extremely high temperatures, the thermosphere would not feel hot to a person, because the air there is far too thin to transfer heat effectively.

Words with a similar meaning

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