mesosphere

mesosphere
—mesospheric /mez'euh sfer"ik, mes'-, mee'zeuh-, -seuh-/, adj.
/mez"euh sfear', mes"-, mee"zeuh-, -seuh-/, n.
1. (in the classification of the earth's atmosphere by chemical properties) the region between the ionosphere and the exosphere, extending from about 250-650 mi. (400-1050 km) above the surface of the earth.
2. (in the classification of the earth's atmosphere by thermal properties) the region between the stratosphere and the thermosphere, extending from about 20-50 mi. (32-80 km) above the surface of the earth.
[1945-50; MESO- + -SPHERE]

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      region of the upper atmosphere between about 50 and 80 km (30 and 50 miles) above the surface of the Earth. The base of the mesosphere is defined as the temperature maximum existing at the top of the stratosphere, with the boundary between the two regions usually called the stratopause. The mesosphere extends upward to the next temperature minimum, which defines the base of the thermosphere; the boundary between the two regions is called the mesopause.

      The percentage of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in the air in the mesosphere is essentially the same as that in the levels of the Earth's atmosphere immediately above the Earth's surface. The principal differences are that the density of the air is much less, there is very little water vapour in the mesosphere, and the mesosphere contains higher percentages of ozone than the lower levels.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • mésosphère — [ mezɔsfɛr ] n. f. • v. 1960; de méso et sphère ♦ Phys. Couche de l atmosphère intermédiaire entre la stratosphère et l ionosphère, d altitude comprise entre 60 et 100 km environ. ● mésosphère nom féminin Zone de l atmosphère d une planète,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • mesosphere — (n.) 1950, from MESO (Cf. meso ) + second element in ATMOSPHERE (Cf. atmosphere) …   Etymology dictionary

  • mesosphere — ► NOUN ▪ the region of the earth s atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere …   English terms dictionary

  • mesosphere — [mes′ō sfir΄, mez′ō sfir΄] n. [ MESO + SPHERE] the atmospheric zone or shell located above the stratopause at an altitude of c. 55 to 80 km ( c. 34 to 50 miles) and characterized by a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude …   English World dictionary

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