Atmosphere

Aurora Borealis Facts: How the Northern Lights Work

During magnetic storms, trapped plasma flashes lights that are observable around the globe. This disturbance in the magnetosphere is the Aurora Borealis.

A Beginner’s Guide to Earth Magnetic Field

The magnetic field gives us a layer out in space called the magnetosphere. Without it, Earth would be exposed to solar and cosmic radiation.

The Human Footprint: 8 Billion People on Earth

In flesh and blood, 7.6 billion humans live on Earth. The emergence of humans has left a profound impact. The demand for resources is the human footprint.

15 Climate Feedback Loops and Examples

Climate feedback loops either amplify or reduce climate change. Positive feedback loops like permafrost melt amplifies climate change because it releases methane.

10 Electrifying Lightning Facts: Get Thunderstruck

Lightning is hotter than the sun, it strikes 8.6 million times a day and more lightning facts. Because when there’s thunder, there’s sure to be lightning.

Earth’s Geomagnetic Reversal: Flipping Polarity

The Earth is a big magnet. This is why compasses point to the magnetic north. But north didn’t always point northward because of magnetic pole reversals.

What Is the Stratosphere?

Main highlights of the stratosphere are: (1) The ozone layer absorbs harmful UV light (2) This causes temperature to rise (3) It contains 10% of air mass.

Coriolis Effect: Air Circulation in the Atmosphere

The Coriolis effect is the deflection of air due to Earth’s rotation. Air veers to the right in the northern hemisphere. And vice versa south of the equator.

What Is the Exosphere?

The exosphere is the upper part of Earth’s atmosphere. It starts at about 500 km and gradually extends into the vacuum of outer space at about 190,000 km.

Earth’s Atmosphere Composition: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon and CO2

From largest to smallest, Earth’s atmosphere composition contains nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO2 and trace gases. Water vapor is excluded from this total.

What Are the 4 Layers of the Atmosphere? [Infographic]

There are 4 primary layers of the atmosphere on Earth: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere. The ionosphere and exosphere are above those.

What Is the Mesosphere?

Highlights of the mesosphere include: (1) Air is very thin (2) It’s the coldest region of the atmosphere close to -100°C and (3) It’s where meteors burn up.