Ionosphere
Troposphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Ionosphere is called so because it is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere. Ionosphere stretches from 50 to 1,000 km and typically overlaps both the exosphere and the thermosphere. It has practical importance because it influences, for example, radio propagation on the Earth. It is also responsible for auroras.
- Auroras are essentially natural lights that appear as bright, swirling curtains in the night sky and can be seen in a range of colours, including blue, red, yellow, green, and orange. These lights primarily appear near the poles of both the northern and southern hemispheres all year round but sometimes they expand to lower latitudes.
- When witnessed near the North, these bright and colourful lights are called Aurora Borealis, while those in the South are called Aurora Australis. They are formed due to an active interaction in space between charged solar winds and the Earth’s magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is defined as the region of space above the Earth’s ionosphere in which charged-particle motion is dominated by the geomagnetic field. Collisions are so infrequent in most of this region that its electrical conductivity is nearly infinite.
- Solar radiation ionises the ionosphere. It is the magnetosphere’s inner edge and plays a vital role in atmospheric electricity. It is practical because, among other things, it affects radio propagation to far-flung parts of the globe.
- It is caused by an increase in activity on the surface of the Sun. The star continuously releases a stream of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, and magnetic fields called the solar wind. As the solar wind approaches the Earth, it is deflected by the planet’s magnetic field, which acts like a protective shield.
- However, some of the charged particles are trapped in the magnetic field and they travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into the upper atmosphere of the Earth. These particles then interact with different gases present there, resulting in tiny flashes that light up the night sky.
- When solar wind particles collide with oxygen, a green coloured light is produced. Interaction with nitrogen produces shades of blue and purple. It is “much like how electrons flowing through gas in a neon light collide with neon and other gasses to produce different colored light bulbs,”
- Auroras expand to midlatitudes when the solar wind is extremely strong. This happens when the activity on the Sun’s surface goes up, leading to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are ejections of large magnetic particles and plasma from the Sun’s corona.
- In such cases, the solar wind is so intense that it can result in a geomagnetic storm, also known as a magnetic storm — a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field. It is during a magnetic storm that auroras can be seen in the mid-latitudes.
If you are interested in preparing for the CSS MPT and other FPSC, SPSC, and PPSC General Recruitment Tests with us, get in touch with us.
Related MCQs
- One degree of longitude on the equator is equal to a distance of? (CSS 2024 General Science & Ability Paper)
- 49 miles
- 69 miles
- 39 miles
- 60 miles
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- German Silver is an alloy of? (CSS 2010 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Zn + Ni
- Cu + Zn
- Cu + Ni
- Cu + Sn
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Hazrat Maria Qibtia (رضی اللّٰہ عنہ) belongs to ?
- Iran
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Syria
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Long-sight defect could be corrected by using Lens? (CSS 2015 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Concave
- Convex lens
- Diverging
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at Rawalpindi\'s Liaquat Bagh on? (PPSC Tehsildar General Knowledge Test, December 15, 2024)
- December 27, 2007
- December 27, 2006
- December 26, 2007
- December 25, 2008
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Size of MAC address in computer network is? (CSS 2020 General Science & Ability Paper)
- 16 bits
- 32 bits
- 48 bits
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Ibn Khaldun\'s Muqaddimah is regarded by many as? (CSS 2012 General Science & Ability Paper)
- A pioneer of the philosophy of history.
- A well documented tale of his trial
- A minor footnote in his writings
- None of these given options
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The macronutrients of plants? (CSS 2019 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Nitrogen
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- All of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- One may define renewable energy as? (CSS 2023 Special General Science & Ability Paper)
- Energy derived from non-traditional sources
- Energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment
- Energy fueled into ways that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment
- All of these given options
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- “Arbaeen” is the book of Hadith in which there are? (CSS 2010 Islamic Studies Paper)
- 40 Ahadith
- 50 ahadith
- 30 Ahadith
- 20 Ahadith
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Kashmir sold to Gulab Singh in? (CSS 2015 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- 1845
- 1846
- 1890
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- On the issue of Kashmir the UN security Council passed resolution on 21 April? (CSS 2023 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- April 21, 1948
- January 7, 1948
- September 23, 1948
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- At-Itqan Fi Uloom Al-Quran ls Written By ? (CSS 2018 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Jalaluddin Suyuti
- Abu Hamid Al-Gazali
- lbn Taymiyyah
- Shah Abdul Aziz Delhwi
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Persons with following blood group are considered to be universal recipient. (CSS 2009 General Science & Ability Paper)
- A+
- B+
- O+
- AB+
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Hazrat Bilal (رضی اللّٰہ عنہ) was set free by? (CSS 2020 Islamic Studies Paper)
- Hazrat abu bakar(رضی اللّٰہ عنہ)
- Hazrat usman(رضی اللّٰہ عنہ)
- Hazrat Ali(کرم اللہ تعالٰی وجہہ الکریم)
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The protein molecule is made of? (CSS 2024 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Alkaloids
- Nucleosides
- Short range chain of amino acids
- Long range chain of amino acids
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The ozone layer protects the earth from_____ sent by sun? (CSS 2016 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Ultraviolet rays
- Infrared rays
- Gamma rays
- Radioactive rays
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"FIDUCIARY\" is? (CSS 2015 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Notary
- Trustee
- Attorney
- Assistant
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Which Radio Station already existed at the time of creation of Pakistan? (CSS 2009 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Peshawar
- Karachi
- Quetta
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- RAW stands for? (CSS 2019 Current Affairs Paper)
- Raw & Analysis
- Research Wing
- Research & Analysis Wing
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Light year is a unit of? (CSS 2010 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Time
- Distance
- Time period
- Light intensity
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Gandhi Jinnah Talks were held in which city? (CSS 2023 Pakistan Affairs Paper)
- Bombay
- Delhi
- Karachi
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- Proteins are made up of? (CSS 2016 General Science & Ability Paper)
- Polynucleotide
- Polypeptide
- Oxyacetylene
- None of these
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The SYNONYM of the word \"NUMMARY\" is? (CSS 2017 English Precis & Composition Paper)
- Of coins
- Fabricate
- Working Capital
- Fastidiousness
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team
- The meaning of the idiom \'Make a beeline\' is? (CCE 2023 Screening Test, December 1, 2024)
- Go straight to
- Stand in a queue
- Look for freebies
- Put the bees in line
Submitted by: CSS Exam Desk Team