Question

Which one of the following layers of the atmosphere has electrically charged ions in plenty ?

• A. Troposphere
• B. Thermosphere
• C. Stratosphere
• D. Mesosphere

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Thermosphere

Layer	Key Characteristic	Ionic Activity
Troposphere	Where we live; contains most of the air mass and weather.	Negligible.
Stratosphere	Home to the Ozone Layer; protects us from UV.	Very low.
Mesosphere	The coldest layer; where meteors burn up.	Starts to increase at the top boundary.
Thermosphere	Extremely thin air; absorbs high-energy solar radiation.	Very High (The heart of the Ionosphere).

Thermosphere

• In this layer, high-energy solar radiation (UV and X-rays) hits gas molecules with enough force to knock electrons off them. This process, called ionization, creates a high concentration of free electrons and positively charged ions.