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The Upper Atmosphere pp 631–643Cite as

The Thermosphere: Selected Features

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Abstract

The thermosphere is the region above the mesosphere and exhibits the strongest height variation of temperature of all atmospheric layers, from the absolute minimum at the mesopause to the absolute maximum, the exospheric temperature. It is also the region where the most drastic changes in atmospheric composition occur and where the atmosphere becomes partly ionized and acquires the properties of a magneto-plasma. The solar EUV radiation is absorbed in the thermosphere and here we localize most of the electric current systems which are responsible for the so-called variations of the geomagnetic field.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    Professor Dr. Walter Dieminger & Professor Dr. Gerd K. Hartmann

  2. Institut für Meteorologie und Geophysik, Universität Graz, Halbärthgasse 1, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Professor Dr. Reinhart Leitinger

Authors
  1. Professor Dr. Walter Dieminger
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  2. Professor Dr. Gerd K. Hartmann
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  3. Professor Dr. Reinhart Leitinger
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Aeronomie, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany

    Walter Dieminger  & Gerd K. Hartmann  & 

  2. Institut für Meteorologie und Geophysik, Universität Graz, Halbärthgasse 1, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Reinhart Leitinger

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© 1996 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Dieminger, W., Hartmann, G.K., Leitinger, R. (1996). The Thermosphere: Selected Features. In: Dieminger, W., Hartmann, G.K., Leitinger, R. (eds) The Upper Atmosphere. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78717-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78717-1_16

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78719-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78717-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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