which statement correctly describes the mesosphere?
a. The northern lights are visible in this layer.
b. Commercial airplanes fly through this layer.
c. Meters burn up in this layer to create shooting stars.
d. atmospheric changes in this layer cause the weather at earths surface.
b. Commercial airplanes fly through this layer.
The correct statement that describes the mesosphere is:
c. Meters burn up in this layer to create shooting stars.
To find the correct statement that describes the mesosphere, let's examine each option:
a. The northern lights are visible in this layer.
The northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, occur in the thermosphere, not the mesosphere. The mesosphere is too low in the atmosphere for the northern lights to be visible. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
b. Commercial airplanes fly through this layer.
Commercial airplanes typically fly in the troposphere and the lower part of the stratosphere. The mesosphere is above the stratosphere, so commercial airplanes do not fly through this layer. Hence, this statement is incorrect.
c. Meters burn up in this layer to create shooting stars.
Shooting stars, technically known as meteors, occur when small particles from space enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up due to friction. This process takes place in the mesosphere, which is why meteors are sometimes referred to as shooting stars. Therefore, this statement is correct.
d. Atmospheric changes in this layer cause the weather at Earth's surface.
The mesosphere is too high in the atmosphere to directly impact the weather at Earth's surface. Weather patterns are primarily influenced by processes in the troposphere, where most of the Earth's weather occurs. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
Therefore, the correct statement that describes the mesosphere is:
c. Meters burn up in this layer to create shooting stars.