Upper atmosphere

Upper atmosphere is a collective term that refers to various layers of the atmosphere of the Earth above the troposphere and corresponding regions of the atmospheres of other planets, and includes:

• The mesosphere, which on Earth lies between the altitudes of about 50 and 80 kilometres (31 and 50 mi), sometimes considered part of the "middle atmosphere" rather than the upper atmosphere
• The thermosphere, which on Earth lies between the altitudes of about 80 and 700 kilometres (50 and 435 mi)
• The exosphere, which on Earth lies between the altitudes of about 700 kilometres (435 mi) and 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi)
• The ionosphere, an ionized portion of the upper atmosphere which includes the upper mesosphere, thermosphere, and lower exosphere and on Earth lies between the altitudes of 48 and 965 kilometres (30 and 600 mi)

See also

• Geospace
• Magnetosphere