The mesosphere is a layer of the homosphere.
The mesosphere is the layer of the homosphere that is located at the highest level, at an altitude of between 50 and 80 kilometers . Among its main characteristics are the lack of water vapor and the decline of thermal marks.
To understand what the mesosphere (or mesosphere , with the accent on the second E) is, it is important to understand what the idea of homosphere (or homosphere ) alludes to. This is the name given to the set of three layers of the atmosphere that are closest to the Earth : the troposphere , the stratosphere and the aforementioned mesosphere.
This means that the troposphere is the lowest atmospheric layer: it is in contact with the surface. Then comes the stratosphere and, at its end, the mesosphere begins. The three layers, as we already said, form the homosphere. Above the mesosphere, meanwhile, is the ionosphere or thermosphere .
Characteristics of the mesosphere
In its most distant sector from the Earth 's surface, about 80 kilometers high, the temperature in the mesosphere reaches -140 degrees Celsius . Precisely, at a greater distance from our planet, the temperature of the mesosphere is lower. One of its highest temperature points is around -5 degrees Celsius, something that for many would also be considered cold. In fact, the mesosphere is the lowest temperature layer of the atmosphere.
Regarding the chemical composition of the mesosphere, we can say that its gases are low density, they are composed of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in an almost identical proportion to that found in the troposphere. Between the composition of these two layers we notice the following main differences: the mesosphere has a higher percentage of ozone, its level of water vapor is scarce and its air is less dense.
The mesosphere is composed of low-density gases.
Its link with aviation and satellites
Planes do not reach there, although at the same time the layer is low for man-made satellites . That is why its study is complex, to the point that in the scientific community they usually refer to it by the name of the ignorosphere .
Due to the low density of the air , on the other hand, turbulence and disturbances called atmospheric waves are frequent in the mesosphere. Shooting stars are usually observed there, which are the flashes generated by the disintegration of meteoroids in the thermosphere . By causing the destruction of most asteroids and meteors, the mesosphere also fulfills an important defensive function of the planet .
In short, we can say that the mesosphere provides us with protection against the impacts of celestial rock masses entering the atmosphere. The friction between their bodies and the air molecules causes them to burn and become luminous, which is why we call them shooting stars . Experts estimate that each day our planet is the target of about 40 tons of meteorites; Thanks to the action of the mesosphere, our soil remains intact as it burns them before they collide with it and damage it.
Other considerations about the mesosphere
The area in which the transition from the mesosphere to the thermosphere occurs is known as the mesopause , and it is there where the lowest temperatures of the former are recorded. At the lower edge of the mesosphere, where it borders the stratosphere, is the stratopause .
Sometimes a particular class of clouds can be observed in the mesosphere that are called noctilucent . They are found in the vicinity of the two poles. One of the characteristics that make these clouds so rare is that they form at a much higher altitude than the rest. Very peculiar lightning bolts are also recorded in this layer, the so-called duende lightning bolts .