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
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The researchers found that the contraction of the thermosphere — the atmospheric layer where the International Space Station orbits today — causes a plunge in density, leading to ripple effects.
—
Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The thermosphere naturally contracts and expands every 11 years in response to the sun’s routine activity cycle, the scientists noted.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The small free-flying instruments released during the experiment will help gauge how the energy and momentum injected into Earth's middle and lower thermosphere by auroral substorms may disrupt its stability.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025
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
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Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The thermosphere naturally contracts and expands every 11 years in response to the sun’s routine activity cycle, the scientists noted.
—Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 10 Mar. 2025
The small free-flying instruments released during the experiment will help gauge how the energy and momentum injected into Earth's middle and lower thermosphere by auroral substorms may disrupt its stability.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 31 Mar. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Thermosphere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermosphere. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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