mesosphere

[ mez-uh-sfeer, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]

noun

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 miles (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 miles (32–80 km) above the surface of the earth.

mesosphere

/ ˈmɛsəʊˌsfɪə; ˌmɛsəʊˈsfɛrɪk /

noun

1. the atmospheric layer lying between the stratosphere and the thermosphere, characterized by a rapid decrease in temperature with height
2. the solid part of the earth's mantle lying between the asthenosphere and the core

mesosphere

/ mĕz′ə-sfîr′ /

1. The region of the Earth's atmosphere lying above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, from a height of about 50 km (31 mi) to about 80 km (50 mi) above the Earth's surface. In the mesosphere temperatures decrease with increasing altitude due to the decreasing absorption of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. At the top of this region temperatures are around −95°C (−135.4°F). Most of the meteors that enter Earth's atmosphere burn up while passing through the mesosphere.
2. See also exosphereSee illustration at atmosphere

Derived Forms

• mesospheric, adjective

Other Words From

• mes·o·spher·ic [mez-, uh, -, sfer, -ik, mes-, mee-z, uh, -, -s, uh, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesosphere¹

First recorded in 1945–50; meso- + -sphere

Example Sentences

One day such sensor parachutes may float through the mesosphere.

From Science News For Students

In the mesosphere, there is “not enough air for airplanes or balloons, but too much air for satellites,” he says.

From Science News For Students

He, Azadi, and the rest of the team flew their discs in a chamber filled with the same concentration of air as the mesosphere.

From Science News For Students

When this rocket was 85 kilometers off the ground, its water cargo exploded — spraying the upper mesosphere with a plume of vapor that froze into a cloud of ice crystals.

From Science News

Microfliers could run on sunlight or laser light and could someday carry small instruments to measure conditions in the relatively unexplored mesosphere, the researchers suggest.

From Science News

What about the incidence of penetrating meteors in the mesosphere?

From Project Gutenberg