What atmospheric layer hosts the light show of a typical meteor?
Answer
The upper mesosphere and thermosphere
The visual manifestation of a meteor, the incandescent streak, occurs within a relatively narrow band high above the Earth's surface. Meteors only begin glowing intensely once they reach an altitude where the atmospheric drag is sufficient to generate the necessary extreme heat required for ablation and gas excitation. This critical zone encompasses the upper reaches of the mesosphere and extends into the thermosphere. These layers provide the necessary medium—gases like nitrogen—that can be excited by the passage of the superheated vaporized rock plume to produce the characteristic light emissions observed by ground-based viewers.
Related Questions
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