thermosphere
noun
ther·mo·sphere
ˈthər-mə-ˌsfir 
: the part of the earth's atmosphere that begins at about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above the earth's surface, extends to outer space, and is characterized by steadily increasing temperature with height
Examples of thermosphere in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Greenhouse gas emissions here at ground level are wreaking havoc on the upper atmosphere, earth’s thermosphere, which potentially can cause catastrophic satellite collision in low-Earth orbit.
—
Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The scientists used computer models to simulate how CO2 would influence the thermosphere and satellite orbital dynamics under different emission scenarios.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
While modeling from the 1990s already showed that greenhouse gases trap heat in the lower atmosphere, more recent research determined that the same gases also radiate heat at much higher altitudes — thereby cooling the thermosphere.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The storm injected a substantial amount of energy into Earth's upper atmosphere, inflating the thermosphere and increasing the atmospheric drag on the satellite.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Then, a final engine burn will bring the space station down into the mesosphere, which is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere beneath the thermosphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025
While this layer of the atmosphere does technically reach the temperatures stated in the post, there are not enough air molecules in the thermosphere to transfer significant amounts of this heat to an object, according to researchers.
—Kim Breen, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
A number of satellites, as well as the International Space Station, are actually whizzing around in a layer of the atmosphere called the thermosphere.
—Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2012
But given the likelihood humanity will long be Earth-bound, trips into the thermosphere and beyond create incredible opportunities to explore space while at the same time making the Earth a better place by creating new, otherwise unattainable knowledge that advances the field of medicine.
—Lisa Suennen, STAT, 26 Sep. 2021
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Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
The scientists used computer models to simulate how CO2 would influence the thermosphere and satellite orbital dynamics under different emission scenarios.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
While modeling from the 1990s already showed that greenhouse gases trap heat in the lower atmosphere, more recent research determined that the same gases also radiate heat at much higher altitudes — thereby cooling the thermosphere.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The storm injected a substantial amount of energy into Earth's upper atmosphere, inflating the thermosphere and increasing the atmospheric drag on the satellite.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Then, a final engine burn will bring the space station down into the mesosphere, which is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere beneath the thermosphere.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025
While this layer of the atmosphere does technically reach the temperatures stated in the post, there are not enough air molecules in the thermosphere to transfer significant amounts of this heat to an object, according to researchers.
—Kim Breen, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
A number of satellites, as well as the International Space Station, are actually whizzing around in a layer of the atmosphere called the thermosphere.
—Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2012
But given the likelihood humanity will long be Earth-bound, trips into the thermosphere and beyond create incredible opportunities to explore space while at the same time making the Earth a better place by creating new, otherwise unattainable knowledge that advances the field of medicine.
—Lisa Suennen, STAT, 26 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Thermosphere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermosphere. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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