mesosphere
noun
me·so·sphere
ˈme-zə-ˌsfir 
ˈmē-,
-sə-
: the part of the earth's atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere in which temperature decreases with altitude to the atmosphere's absolute minimum
Examples of mesosphere in a Sentence
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After a lightning strike, red sprites may appear in Earth’s mesosphere, high above a thunderstorm.
—
Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
Unlike the familiar bolts that crack down from clouds to the ground, sprites shoot upward into the mesosphere, often appearing red or pink, due to the interaction of nitrogen molecules with high-energy electrons.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Alongside other processes, this cools the mesosphere to temperatures as low as minus 210 degrees Fahrenheit, according to EarthSky.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
These rare clouds form roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth in the mesosphere, a cold layer of the atmosphere located about 43 miles (70 km) above where ordinary clouds form.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 May 2025
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Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
Unlike the familiar bolts that crack down from clouds to the ground, sprites shoot upward into the mesosphere, often appearing red or pink, due to the interaction of nitrogen molecules with high-energy electrons.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025
Alongside other processes, this cools the mesosphere to temperatures as low as minus 210 degrees Fahrenheit, according to EarthSky.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
These rare clouds form roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth in the mesosphere, a cold layer of the atmosphere located about 43 miles (70 km) above where ordinary clouds form.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mesosphere
Cite this Entry
“Mesosphere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesosphere. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mesosphere
noun
me·so·sphere
ˈmez-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r
ˈmēz-,
ˈmēs-,
ˈmes-
: a layer of the atmosphere extending from the top of the stratosphere to an altitude of about 50 miles (80 kilometers)
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