2007-08-31 00:12:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Generally the Atmosphere gets colder with altitude, because the ground is warmed by solar radiation which in turn heats the air closest to the ground.
But - there is a warm layer (thermosphere) which is warmed directly by solar radiation. This corresponds to the Ozone Layer which absorbs ultraviolet from the sun. Ultraviolet has high energy, so as it's absorbed it heats the ozone.
2007-08-31 02:32:19 · answer #1 · answered by Nick J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The air gets colder as you increase the altitude until the atmosphere gets too thin to modify the solar radiation. This solar energy is still not enough to cause any serious heating. The real heat on re-entry from space is cause by friction with the air due to the high speed of the entering object. Returning from low orbit a body will be traveling at around 18,000 miles per hour.
Meteors are usually faster than this and mostly burn up completely in the upper atmosphere, again from heat generated by friction.
2007-08-31 07:41:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It has different temperatures at different altitudes, and there are some high altitudes where it is hot, but the air is so thin there that it has no effects; it wouldn't feel hot or make something floating there hot. It has nothing to do with space craft heating up on reentry. Space craft heating is due to friction from the high speed and not temperature of the surrounding atmosphere.
2007-08-31 09:43:54 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thermosphere (70 - 400 miles) is a region of extremely thin atmosphere where solar radiation is captured directly by the atmosphere. Temperatures in this realm can range from 500 deg C to 2500 C depending on solar activity. However, this heat is not readily transferred to spacecraft traveling through the thermosphere due to the low density of the atmosphere.
2007-08-31 09:32:47 · answer #4 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The atmosphere continues to get colder with altitude.
You will eventually get hotter as the thinner air provides less and less protection of radiation from the sun.
2007-08-31 08:10:45 · answer #5 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The layer where temperature increases is the thermosphere, as the name signifies. This is because the heat radiated(sun's heat energy reflected) by the earth's surface is absorbed in this layer. It is mostly due to domination in the levels of carbon-di-oxide in this layer.
2007-08-31 07:40:56 · answer #6 · answered by Nishit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thermosphere.
2007-08-31 10:49:35 · answer #7 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as we cross the ozone layer..... b cos the atmosphere there is thinner ...it gets hot qiuckly
2007-08-31 07:24:29 · answer #8 · answered by Akshay B 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋