mesopause

atmospheric science

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June 17, 2026

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The mesopause is the upper boundary of the mesosphere, marking the point where atmospheric temperatures reach their lowest before increasing again in the thermosphere. This region is located at an altitude of approximately 80 to 90 km (50 to 55 miles) above the Earth's surface. The mesosphere itself is a layer of the atmosphere situated between about 50 and 80 km (30 and 50 miles) above the Earth. Unlike the stratosphere below it, the mesosphere experiences a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude. The mesopause signifies the transition between these two distinct atmospheric layers.123

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Earth
The atmosphere of Earth
…above the surface, where the mesopause is defined. The minimum temperature attained there is extremely variable with season. Temperatures then rise with increasing height through the overlying layer known as the thermosphere. Also above about 80–90 km there is an increasing fraction of charged, or ionized, particles, which from this…
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…above the surface, where the mesopause is defined. The minimum temperature attained there is extremely variable with season. Temperatures then rise with increasing height through the overlying layer known as the thermosphere. Also above about 80–90 km there is an increasing fraction of charged, or ionized, particles, which from this…
Read More