IONOSPHERE

HEIGHT & OCCURANCE

• Lower layer of Thermosphere
• 80-550km
• Solar energy and gas molecules become electrically charged
• Radio waves bounce off of ions and bounce back to Earth
• Aurora borealis - particles from the sun enter ionosphere near North Pole

OCCURRANCE P2

• Particles hit oxygen and nitrogen atoms making them glow

IMPORTANCE

• Reflects radio waves back to Earth
• Long distance radio communication
• Greenhouse

ETC

• Less than 0.1% total mass of atmosphere
• Split into D, E, & F layers
• D is the lowest part and absorbs the most harsh X-Ray radiation
• E is directly above D, and is the layer in which radio waves are reflected
• F is the top layer and absorbs ultraviolet waves ( splits into F1 & F2)