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Thermosphere

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The part of the Earth's atmosphere that begins at about 50 miles above the Earth's surface, extends to outer space, and is characterized by steadily increasing temperature with height.

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Cation Exchange

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The process where negatively charged soil particle surfaces bind positively charged atoms or molecules, allowing them to exchange with other positively charged particles in the surrounding soil water.

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Stratosphere

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The second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward, located above the troposphere.

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Troposphere

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The lowest, densest part of the Earth's atmosphere where most weather changes occur, extending from the Earth's surface to about 7 miles high.

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Parent Material

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The geologic materials from which soil horizons form.

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Exosphere

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The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, where the atmosphere thins out into space.

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Mesosphere

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The layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere, characterized by decreasing temperatures with height.

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Atmospheric Pressure

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The force exerted onto a surface by the weight of the air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth (or that of another planet).

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Greenhouse Effect

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The process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space.

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Ozone Layer

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A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.