The layers of our atmosphere from sea level to outer space: troposphere (mountain peaks, airplanes), stratosphere (ozone, meteorological balloons), mesosphere (meteors), thermosphere (aurora lights, space plane, Karman – line), exosphere (particles flying out into space). There is no sharp line between the different layers; they are constantly mixing, migrating a little lower, a little higher.
TROPOSPHERE
0 – 18 km
The densest layer of our atmosphere. To a large extent, the weather “happens” here, this layer gives the greenhouse effect. Airplanes fly in this layer (with the exception of the Blackbird SR-71, which has a peak height of 26 km), and almost the 9 km height is scratched by the peak of Mount Everest, or Chomolungma. You know, where you need an oxygen bottle, unless you’re a Sherpa (recommended for them from a neurological point of view).
The temperature up to an altitude of 11 km, approx. It decreases by 6.5 °C. This discovery is due to the French meteorologist Leon Philippe Teisserenc de Bort /05.11. 1855. – 01.02. 1913./, with the names of the atmospheric layers Troposphere and Stratosphere.
STRATOSPHERE
18 – 50 km
This is where the medium became suitable for the formation of the ozone layer. The ozone layer prevents the further penetration of harmful rays, thereby protecting life on earth. However. Since the air is not exchanged here, all emitted harmful substances are trapped here for a long time, damaging the ozone layer (it provides inadequate conditions for its healty preservation; ozone holes).This process has an impact on our Earth’s climate changes. By the way, the stratosphere is shrinking and thinning countinously due to harmful substances. This is also what the Paris Agreement is about.
This is where the meteorological balloons fly and the temperature rises again in this layer. And here is the so-called Armstrong – line/limit at the altitude of 18-19 km. But what do we need to know about it?
MESOSPHERE
50 – 85 km
Most of the meteors burn up here, and here the temperature starts to drop again. We don’t know much about this layer. We use to send rocket probes here to investigate this layer, because meteorological balloons can’t get up here anymore.
THERMOSPHERE
85 – 690 km
This is where the Polar Lights takes shape, the colours of which are determined by its components, from which you can deduce what height it is in its entirety and in its parts. The ISS (International Space Station) also orbits here at an altitude of 422 km. And you can only get up here by spacecraft. And here is the Karman – line stretches between 85 and 100 km.
EXOSPHERE
690 – 10 000 km
It consists mostly of hydrogen, extreme temperatures prevail in this layer, and the atoms here already fly outwards, not towards the lower layers. This is what separates Outer Space from our Earth.
IONOSPHERE
It begins from the top of the mesosphere, but mostly from the thermosphere. It is formed by particles charged by solar activity. It has different layers, marked D, E, F. At some points, the temperature reaches 1,500 °C.
This is the layer through which we can send radio broadcasts, the communication between the Earth and the satellites works, the Borealis and shooting stars are created. Filters a large dose of radiation, burns most of the rock debris.
KARMAN – LINE
In terms of space travel, this is where Outer Space begins. At NASA, exactly 122 km high. As the altitude increases, the atmosphere becomes thinner and the air density decreases. It is not a sharply drawn, imaginary fixed line in the sky. It was calculated by Tódor Kármán (physicist Mihály Kármán Tivadar, applied mathematician, mechanical engineer).
Quite a few factors influence exactly what height it is, and its definition does not set a fixed constant figure either: after reaching this height, a mechanical vehicle can no longer fly with the help of buoyancy. To stay here, you need to reach the first cosmic speed (7.9 km/s). This is necessary for the spacecraft to enter a circular orbit around the Earth (or any celestial body).
In winter, this is the altutude of around 100 km, while in summer it is 85 km. But NASA “uses” 122 km, because at this height they switch to an aerodynamic maneuver from motorized.
Be a Nerdy Bird!
