The Mesosphere is an incredible force field high up in Earth’s atmosphere, keeping us safe from space rocks and metals. At around 130 degrees below zero, it’s the third and coldest layer of air, but it plays an incredibly important role in protecting the planet.
It’s like a superhero suit encasing the entire Earth, burning up any alien objects before they have a chance to reach where we call home. It can be intense out there – strong winds, wild temperatures, and high radiation – but our mesosphere shield remains active, combatting whatever comes their way to keep us safe from harm.
Even when things look bleak in the world, our Mesosphere remains as hopeful as ever – quietly working away towards protecting every last one of us on this blue planet.
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Mesosphere Facts for Kids
- The Mesosphere is the layer of Earth’s atmosphere above the stratosphere.
- It begins about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the Earth’s surface.
- The temperature in the Mesosphere decreases with increasing altitude.
- The Mesosphere is too high for airplanes to fly and too low for satellites to orbit.
- The Mesosphere is home to meteors that burn up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.
- The Mesosphere is also home to noctilucent clouds, which are the highest clouds on Earth.
What is the Mesosphere?
The Mesosphere is like a knightly force field, protecting our planet from invading space debris and meteorites!
On starry nights, when you gaze up at the sky to observe a sparkling celestial show, suddenly, bright streaks of light appear before vanishing into thin air.
It takes an immense journey of 31 miles upwards to reach the Mesosphere – a mysterious layer that lies 85km above our Earth.
Cold and dark, it may be, but this obscure corner right between the top layer of the stratosphere and the bottom layer of the thermosphere is responsible for eliminating asteroids and debris before they can enter our atmosphere.
Truly an intergalactic guardian to look up to!
The temperature of the Mesosphere
The coldest place in the world resides deep below the Mesosphere, boasting temperatures nearly 85°C (120°F) colder than your average winter chill.
The frigid air is capable of causing even limited water vapor to sublimate into a breathtaking phenomenon known as polar-mesospheric clouds – having a stunning bluish-white color.
It’s an incredible vision that few have ever seen, requiring an expedition of its own.
In this extreme environment, we are met with ambitious challenges and opportunities alike; the temptation to explore and define what we can do here.
Mesosphere Altitude
The Mesosphere is the uppermost layer of our atmosphere and stretches from the stratopause to a height of roughly 260,000 to 80,000 feet altitude.
It contains most meteors that have entered our atmosphere and protect us from extreme radiation levels caused by solar activity.
This region is home to many mysterious and remarkable phenomena, including noctilucent clouds, which are wispy clouds illuminated by sunlight reflecting off Earth’s surface at night.
This deck of gas continues to astonish as it carries exquisite aurora displays around the world in its cosmic winds.
Though difficult for humans to experience due to the very cold temperatures, this is an incredible part of our environment that sparkles with possibility.
What are the components of the Mesosphere?
The Mesosphere is made up of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen in equal parts. This mixture enables us to survive and thrive in places around the planet.
It’s a delicate balance that keeps us breathing fresh air and living healthy lives.
And while the usual atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, the Mesosphere evens out the ratio to create an equilibrium of 33% each for these three essential gases.
Beyond that, there’s an additional 1% of other gases, including argon, helium, ozone, methane, and water vapor – all crucial components to sustaining life as we know it.
But it’s this very same layer high up in our atmosphere that doesn’t get enough attention!
What is the significance of the Mesosphere?
The Mesosphere is an integral layer of Earth’s atmosphere and is perhaps even more important than we ever realized.
This unassuming layer works tirelessly to keep the planet excitingly temperate while maintaining a balanced mix of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide that gently sustains life here on Earth.
But its protective skills don’t stop there!
The Mesosphere also has the remarkable capacity to absorb damaging solar radiation, blocking most of it with wavelengths greater than 175 nm and even Lyman-alpha rays at 121.6nm! And, as if this was not enough, it is constantly burning up meteors and other space debris before we are ever in harm’s way – defending planet Earth from potentially harmful radiations from outer space like a trusty sidekick!
Important Facts and Overview
The Mesosphere is the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, located above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere.
The Mesosphere is an important part of the ozone layer, which acts as a protective blanket for the planet by absorbing harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
The Mesosphere is located about 50 to 85 kilometers (30 to 53 miles) above the Earth’s surface and is the layer where many meteoroids burn up upon entering the atmosphere.
The Mesosphere is also known as the “night sky” layer because it is the source of the bright and colorful auroras that can often be seen in the sky at high latitudes.
The Mesosphere is home to many planetary waves, which are large-scale atmospheric waves that can affect weather patterns and the movement of air masses around the globe.
Weather balloons are often used to measure conditions in the Mesosphere, including temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
The Mesosphere is the outer layer of Earth’s atmosphere and is located above the Earth’s surface. It is also the lowest layer of the atmosphere, with the thermosphere being the outermost layer.
The Mesosphere is composed of a mixture of gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and trace amounts of other substances. The outer core of the Mesosphere is characterized by extremely low temperatures, with temperatures decreasing with increasing altitude.
