upper atmosphere


noun Meteorology.

the portion of the atmosphere above the troposphere.
Compare upper air.

Origin of upper atmosphere

First recorded in 1890–95

British Dictionary definitions for upper atmosphere

upper atmosphere

noun

meteorol that part of the atmosphere above the troposphere

Scientific definitions for upper atmosphere

upper atmosphere

The part of the atmosphere above the troposphere. The upper atmosphere includes the mesosphere, the ionosphere, the thermosphere, and the exosphere. Temperatures in the upper atmosphere decrease with increasing altitude except in the thermosphere, where temperatures increase significantly with altitude, because the few molecules present receive intense solar radiation.