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Earth's Atmosphere extends, gradually thinning, to 1,000
miles, 1/2 is below 3 1/2 miles. Because of Turbulence, composition
to 45 miles is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, .03% Carbon Dioxide, and .04%
Argon, Neon, Radon, Helium, Krypton, Xenon, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, &
Ozone. Also, up to 4% Water-Vapor, Dust, Salt, Carbon Monoxide,
Micro-Organisms, & Industrial Chemicals. Above 500 miles are Helium
& Hydrogen.
TROPOSPHERE - Up to 5 miles
above Poles & 11 miles above Equator
Clouds, Weather, Heated by Earth Surface, Vertical Air Currents &
Horizontal Winds
TROPOPAUSE - Boundary between Troposphere &
Stratosphere
STRATOSPHERE - Up to 30 miles
Near weatherless, little Vertical Air motion, Temperature drop slows -
increases near top
MESOSPHERE - 30 - 50 miles
Temp. drop from 30 to -100 F at top
THERMOSPHERE - 50 - 500 miles
Ionized Particle Layers - Reflect Long Radio Waves, E Layer 50-80
mi. up & F Layer 150-200 mi., Temp. varies (at 300 mi.) from 2,500+
F in Day to 300 at Nite, Aurora occurr
EXOSPHERE - 500 - 1,000 miles
Ionized Atomic Hydrogen & Helium, 4,500 degrees F in Day, -450 F at Nite |