The thermosphere and the exosphere together form the upper atmosphere. Because there are relatively few molecules and atoms in the thermosphere, even absorbing small amounts of solar energy can significantly increase the air temperature, making the thermosphere the hottest layer in the atmosphere.

The thermosphere is often considered the “hot layer” because it contains the warmest temperatures in the atmosphere.

E. The thermosphere contains a layer of charged particles called the ionospherewhich makes communication by radio wavespossible and is home to theaurora borealis(Northern Lights). This is the layer in which flew before it was grounded within the last decade..

In the Thermosphere, gas molecules are absorbing more of the suns radiated energy then they can release, so they speed up and correspondingly increase in temperature. Because there are few molecules, very little heat energy can be transferred from the thermosphere to a satellite.

600 kilometers

Why does the temperature increase in the thermosphere? The temperature increases rapidly in this layer due to the absorption of huge amounts of incoming high energy solar radiation by atoms of nitrogen and oxygen. This radiation is then converted into heat energy and temperatures can climb in excess of 2700 (degrees)F.

The Earth’s thermosphere also includes the region of the atmosphere called the ionosphere. The ionosphere is a region of the atmosphere that is filled with charged particles. The high temperatures in the thermosphere can cause molecules to ionize. This is why an ionosphere and thermosphere can overlap.

The ionosphere is defined as the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that is ionized by solar and cosmic radiation. It has practical importance because, among other functions, it influences radio propagation to distant places on the Earth. It is also called as thermosphere.

10 Things to Know About the Ionosphere

• It’s home to all the charged particles in Earth’s atmosphere.
• The ionosphere is where Earth’s atmosphere meets space.
• It changes — sometimes unpredictably.
• It’s home to many of our satellites.
• Disturbances there can disrupt signals.
• It’s influenced by weather.
• 7. …
• The ionosphere constantly glows.

crust

lithosphere

inner core

The mantle’s thickness is about 2900 km – so if you consider the Earth’s core as one big thing, then the core is the “thickest layer” (though has a bigger radius is probably a better way of saying it) – but the idea of a separate outer and inner core is generally accepted.

The mantle is the layer of the earth that lies below the crust and is by far the largest layer making up 84% of Earth’s volume.