noun
- plural of thermosphere; the layers of Earth’s atmosphere above the mesosphere where temperature increases with altitude due to absorption of solar radiation
Usage: atmospheric science; meteorology
Examples
- Scientists study the thermospheres of different planets to understand atmospheric heating.
- The thermospheres of Earth and Mars have different temperature profiles.
- Satellites orbit within the thermospheres where atmospheric density is extremely low.
- Solar activity affects the temperature variations in planetary thermospheres.
- Researchers compare the thermospheres of gas giants to those of rocky planets.
- The thermospheres extend from about 80 kilometers to several hundred kilometers above the surface.