Mesosphere
Mesosphere
Mesosphere (/ˈmiː.zoʊˌsfɪər/; from Greek mesos "middle" and sphaira "sphere") is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere that is directly above the stratosphere and directly below the thermosphere. In the mesosphere, temperature decreases as altitude increases. This characteristic is used to define its limits: it begins at the top of the stratosphere (usually around 50 km above the Earth's surface), and ends at the stratopause (the boundary between the stratosphere and mesosphere).
Etymology
The term "mesosphere" was first coined by the British scientist Leonard Horner in 1902. It is derived from the Greek words "mesos", meaning "middle", and "sphaira", meaning "sphere". This is in reference to its position as the middle layer of the Earth's atmosphere.
Related Terms
- Stratosphere: The layer of the Earth's atmosphere that lies directly below the mesosphere.
- Thermosphere: The layer of the Earth's atmosphere that lies directly above the mesosphere.
- Troposphere: The lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, located directly below the stratosphere.
- Exosphere: The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, located directly above the thermosphere.
- Atmosphere of Earth: The layer of gases, commonly known as air, that surrounds the Earth and is retained by Earth's gravity.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mesosphere
- Wikipedia's article - Mesosphere
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