Ionosphere

 

What exactly is the ionosphere?

The ionosphere is a very active part of the atmosphere that expands and contracts in response to the energy it absorbs from the Sun. The term "ionosphere" refers to how gases in these layers are excited by solar radiation. The changing, active layer

 

The ionosphere is an intriguing layer that overlaps the mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. It's a very active part of the atmosphere that expands and contracts in response to the energy it absorbs from the sun. The name derives from the fact that gases in these layers are excited by solar radiation to form "ions," which have an electrical charge.

 Parts of the ionosphere overlap with the magnetosphere of Earth. This is the area around Earth where charged particles are affected by the magnetic field.

Charged particles in the ionosphere are influenced by the magnetic fields of both the Earth and the sun. This is where auroras occur. These are the bright, beautiful bands of light that can be seen near the Earth's poles from time to time. They are caused by the sun's high-energy particles interacting with the atoms in this layer of our atmosphere.