The Thermosphere and Ionosphere
Themosphere and Ionosphere
It extends from 80 to 600 km high and its boundary with the thermopause Exosphere.
– It is so named because most of the molecules present are ionized by the absorption of solar radiation of high energy (gamma rays, X-rays of ultraviolet radiation), causing the loss of nitrogen and oxygen ionized electrons being loaded +, detached electrons originate electric fields across the layer and release heat (filter function).
– The charges accumulate + Ionosphere and the Earth’s surface charges accumulate – formed between a magnetic field that is recharged by storms
The interaction of subatomic particles from the Sun to the ionized atoms of this layer is called luminous phenomena produced a polar auroras (aurora borealis in the north pole and aurora australis in the south pole) that occur near the magnetic poles. Its color depends on if it hits:
O 2 → low pressure (greenish yellow) N 2 → (blue)
→ at very low pressure (red)
In the ionosphere, bouncing radio waves used in television and telecommunications.
The temperature of the thermosphere is ascending to the height to absorb high energy radiation, and can reach over 1000 ° C
(Curiosity: the low density of gases, this temperature does not really mean much energy).
The Magnetosphere
The magnetosphere is the region of space around the Earth, where Earth’s magnetic field forms a protective shield against solar wind (streams of particles, mainly protons emitted from the solar atmosphere) and the most dangerous radiation, like gamma rays and solar X-rays, which is a condition that allows the existence of life on our planet. The magnetosphere begins about 500 km altitude above the ionosphere, and extends far beyond the exosphere, about 60,000 km altitude in the direction of the Sun and more distant in the opposite direction.
Lovelock’s Initial Hypothesis
Lovelock claimed the existence of a global control system of temperature, atmospheric composition and ocean salinity. Their arguments were:
The global surface temperature of Earth has remained constant despite the increase in energy supplied by the Sol.La atmospheric composition remains constant, but should be inestable.La salinity of the ocean remains constant, but should be much more Enever.
It was felt that the current atmosphere should consist of approximately 99% of CO 2 with little traces of oxygen and nitrogen. According to the Gaia theory, which at today’s atmosphere consisting of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and only 0.03% of carbon dioxide because the life, activity and reproduction maintains these conditions that make it habitable for many kinds of life.
Prior to formulating the Gaia Hypothesis that the Earth was supposed to possess the right conditions for life to be given it, and that life had simply adapted to the conditions and the changes occurring under these conditions.
The Gaia hypothesis is proposed that given initial conditions that made possible the beginning of life on the planet, has been the very life that has been modified, and therefore the resulting conditions are a consequence and responsibility life that inhabits it. To explain how life can keep the chemical conditions of Gaia, Margulis has underscored the important ability of microorganisms to transform gases containing nitrogen, sulfur and carbon
The Gaia Hypothesis
The Gaia hypothesis is a set of scientific models of the biosphere which posits that life fosters and maintains suitable conditions for itself, affecting the environment. According to the Gaia hypothesis, the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface behave as a coherent whole, where life, the characteristic component is responsible for self-regulate its essential conditions of their environment such as temperature, chemical composition and salinity If the oceans. Gaia would behave like a self-regulating system (which tends to balance).
This hypothesis is based on the idea that the biomass self-regulates the conditions of the planet to make its physical environment (especially temperature and atmospheric chemistry) more hospitable to the species of “life.” Gaia Hypothesis defined this “hospitality” as a complete