ionosphere

[ahy-on-uh-sfeer]

noun

1. the region of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the exosphere, consisting of several ionized layers and extending from about 50 to 250 miles (80 to 400 km) above the surface of the earth.

ionosphere

/ aɪˈɒnəˌsfɪə, aɪˌɒnəˈsfɛrɪk /

noun

1. a region of the earth's atmosphere, extending from about 60 kilometres to 1000 km above the earth's surface, in which there is a high concentration of free electrons formed as a result of ionizing radiation entering the atmosphere from space See also D region E region F region

ionosphere

1. A region of the Earth's upper atmosphere, extending from a height of 70 km (43 mi) to 400 km (248 mi) and containing atoms that have been ionized by radiation from the Sun. The ionosphere lies mostly in the lower thermosphere and is subdivided into three regions, the D region (70 km to 90 km; 43 to 56 mi), the E region (90 km to 150 km; 56 to 93 mi), and the F region (150 km to 400 km; 93 to 248 mi). The concentration of ionized atoms is lowest in the D region, intermediate in the E region, and highest in the F region. The ionosphere is useful for radio transmission because radio waves, which normally propagate in straight lines, are reflected off the ionized gas particles, thereby being transmitted long distances across the Earth's curved surface.

2. See more at D region E region F region

ionosphere

1. A region of the atmosphere that begins at an altitude of about thirty miles.

In this region, free particles carrying an electrical charge, atoms ionized (see ionization) by radiation from the sun, reflect radio waves. “Bouncing” radio waves off the ionosphere makes communication possible over long distances of the surface of the Earth.

Other Word Forms

• ionospheric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ionosphere¹

First recorded in 1925–30; iono- + -sphere

Example Sentences

As the storm weakened, the plasmasphere began to replenish with particles supplied by the ionosphere.

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The satellites will map the magnetic fields, upper atmosphere and ionosphere of Mars in 3D, gathering data that will help humans land or even settle on the Red Planet.

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The vortex spins fastest in the ionosphere, progressively weakening as it reaches each deeper layer.

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The storms can also disrupt GPS signals by forcing those satellites to transmit through a more electron-rich ionosphere, a layer of the upper atmosphere.

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This creates regions on Jupiter where the solar wind, which carries some of the sun's magnetic field lines, directly interacts with the planet's ionosphere and atmosphere.

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