ionosphere
pronunciation
How to pronounce ionosphere in British English:
UK [aɪˈɒnəsfɪə(r)]
How to pronounce ionosphere in American English:
US [aɪˈɑːnəsfɪr]
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- Noun:
- the outer region of the Earth's atmosphere; contains a high concentration of free electrons
Word Origin
- ionosphere (n.)
- 1926, from ion + sphere. Coined by Scottish radar pioneer Robert A. Watson-Watt (1892-1973). So called because it contains many ions.
Example
- 1. Unlike other radio broadcasts , short-wave transmissions , bouncing off the ionosphere , can connect any two points on earth .
- 2. The ionosphere is distinguished from other layers of earth 's atmosphere because it is electrically charged through exposure to solar radiation .
- 3. This energy soon showered earth 's upper atmosphere , tearing apart atoms in a region called the ionosphere to a greater depth than an ordinary solar flare and causing them to glow .
- 4. Though full details have yet to be released , the bbc understands that scientists also observed a " huge " signal in the ionosphere before the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in china on 12 may .
- 5. This extra energy would be funnelled down towards the magnetic poles , so molecules in the ionosphere above these regions could be accelerated enough to escape ( see diagram ) .