The gases in the heterosphere are stratified due to the variation in molecular weight and the influence of gravity. In this upper layer of the atmosphere, lighter gases, such as hydrogen and helium, tend to rise and occupy higher altitudes, while heavier gases, like oxygen and nitrogen, are found lower down. This separation occurs because the gravitational pull affects lighter molecules less, allowing them to remain in the upper layers. As a result, the composition of the heterosphere changes with altitude, leading to distinct layers of different gases.
The atmosphere above 80km (50 mi) and the homosphere where gases are stratified, with concentrations of the heavier gases decreasing more rapidly with altitude than concentrations of the lighter gases
in homosphere the concentration of gases remain same and gases are mixed while in heterosphere conc. of gases is different and gases are in the form of layers.Read more: What_is_the_difference_between_homosphere_and_the_heterosphere
The layer of the atmosphere where gases do not maintain a uniform composition is the heterosphere. In the heterosphere, gases tend to separate into layers based on their molecular weights, with lighter gases being found at higher altitudes and heavier gases at lower altitudes.
The heterosphere is made up of different layers containing various gases. The composition can vary, but generally, the heterosphere consists of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, oxygen, and other trace gases like argon and carbon dioxide. These gases are distributed unevenly in different layers based on their molecular weight.
In the homosphere the concentration of gases remains the same throughout, and the gases are mixed, always in the same proportions. In the heterosphere the concentration of gases is different in different places, and the gases are typically in the form of layers, rather than mixed together.
The thermosphere is called the heterosphere because the gases in this layer are not evenly mixed. Instead, they are layered based on their molecular weight, with lighter gases like hydrogen and helium at higher altitudes and heavier gases like nitrogen and oxygen at lower altitudes. This concentration gradient results in distinct layers or regions of different composition.
The heterosphere is divided into several distinct regions based on the distribution of gases by molecular weight. These regions include the exosphere, thermosphere, and mesosphere. The exosphere is the outermost layer, containing mainly light gases like hydrogen and helium, while the thermosphere contains heavier gases like oxygen and nitrogen. The mesosphere sits below the thermosphere and holds various gases, with decreasing concentrations as altitude increases.
The gases in the mesosphere are stratified because they are different weights; with the lightest and least dense at the very outer edge, this is the layer where meteors burn up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
The gases in the heterosphere are poorly mixed. This is because the gases are not evenly distributed due to variations in density, with lighter gases like hydrogen and helium found at higher altitudes and heavier gases like oxygen and nitrogen found at lower altitudes. This results in distinct layers of gases rather than a uniform mixing.
The homosphere is the portion of the earth's atmosphere, up to an altitude of about 50 miles above sea level, in which there is continuous turbulent mixing, and hence the composition of the atmosphere is relatively constant; as opposed to the heterosphere or exosphere, the higher regions in which the composition becomes stratified
The stratosphere is part of the homosphere. The homosphere includes the layers of the atmosphere where the composition is relatively uniform, and the stratosphere is one of these layers characterized by the presence of the ozone layer.
There is no other name for the thermosphere.