Earth's atmosphere (thing)

See all of Earth's atmosphere, there is 1 more in this node.

by Ed Halley

Tue Jul 03 2001 at 4:23:26

Earth's Atmospheric Layers

There are several ways to classify the atmospheric layers of the Earth.

Very broadly,

homosphere - surface to approx 80~100km
heterosphere - approx 80~100km and above

Distinct layers,

troposphere - surface to 18km, capped by the tropopause
stratosphere - 18km to 50km, capped by the stratopause
mesosphere - 50km to 80km, capped by the mesopause
(also known as the lower ionosphere, or the airglow, or the ozone band)
thermosphere - 80km to 400km, capped by the thermopause
(ionosphere includes the mesosphere and thermosphere)
exosphere - 400km to 64000km
(also known as the magnetosphere)

Radio layers,

D-layer or D region - 56km to 88km
(absorbs energy of shortwave raido waves reflected by other layers)
Heaviside-Kennelly layer, E-layer or E region - 88km to 154km
(during the day, reflects radio waves)
Appleton layer, F-layer or F region - 154km to 400km
(reflects radio waves of up to 50MHz)