<h1>Who gave the names Troposphere and Stratosphere</h1>

<p>The stratosphere was firstly discovered by Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort and Richard Aßmann (they did not cooperate) around 1900. Teisserenc de Bort denoted that layer as 'zone isotherme' in his publication on his discovery. However, he published in French. I remember to have read somewhere - not sure where - that he gave the two names 'troposphere' and 'stratosphere' to the two lower layers after discovering the existence of a quite distinct second layer. Unfortunately, I do not find the reference anymore. In the article <a href="http://empslocal.ex.ac.uk/people/staff/gv219/classics.d/Hoinka-tropo97.pdf">Hoinka (1997)</a> you will find some information about the discovery of the stratosphere.</p>

<h1>What the Names mean</h1>

<h2>Troposphere</h2>

<p>tropos (greek): turn(ing)</p>

<p>Turbulent mixing is relevant in this layer of the atmosphere => Turbulent Mixing Sphere => Troposphere</p>

<h2>Stratosphere</h2>

<p>stratum (latin): something which covers something else (pavement, blanket)</p>

<p>This layer of the atmosphere, which is not dominated by turbulent mixing, covers the lower turbulent layer => Covering Sphere => Stratosphere</p>

<h2>Mesosphere</h2>

<p>mesos (greek): middle
This part of the atmosphere is the third of five (from humans defined) layers of the atmosphere => Layer in the middle (not by distance/height but by counting layers) => Mesosphere</p>

<h2>Thermosphere</h2>

<p>thermos (greek): warm, heat</p>

<p>This layer can be heated to above 1000 °C by the sun. However, it does not feel 'warm' because of the low 'air' density. => Heated/hot layer => Thermosphere </p>

<h2>Exosphere</h2>

<p>éxo (greek): outside, external</p>

<p>This layer is the most outward located layer of the atmosphere. => At the outer side located => Exosphere</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-01T15:13:17.807Z
2016-04-01T15:13:17.807Z
daniel.heydebreck
<p>How are atmospheric layers named once they have been discovered?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-01T11:47:22.797Z
Just to make sure: You are asking for the persons/institutions who gave the names to the atmospheric layer? Thus, you do not want to know what their names mean (you probably know it) but who gave it?
daniel.heydebreck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-01T14:22:22.433Z
I was thinking more along the lines of why a specific name is chosen.  If there is an institution that selects the names, that would be an interesting point, but why do they chose a particular name for a given layer?  I would guess that there is some correlation between the meaning of the name and the properties of the layer.
Montgomery 'monty' Jones
<atmosphere><history-of-science>
How did Earth's atmospheric layers get their names?
Montgomery 'monty' Jones
# How did Earth's atmospheric layers get their names?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-04-01)

How are atmospheric layers named once they have been discovered?

**Tags:** atmosphere, history-of-science

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Just to make sure: You are asking for the persons/institutions who gave the names to the atmospheric layer? Thus, you do not want to know what their names mean (you probably know it) but who gave it?  
> **username_0**: I was thinking more along the lines of why a specific name is chosen.  If there is an institution that selects the names, that would be an interesting point, but why do they chose a particular name for a given layer?  I would guess that there is some correlation between the meaning of the name and the properties of the layer.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-04-01. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

# Who gave the names Troposphere and Stratosphere

The stratosphere was firstly discovered by Léon-Philippe Teisserenc de Bort and Richard Aßmann (they did not cooperate) around 1900. Teisserenc de Bort denoted that layer as 'zone isotherme' in his publication on his discovery. However, he published in French. I remember to have read somewhere - not sure where - that he gave the two names 'troposphere' and 'stratosphere' to the two lower layers after discovering the existence of a quite distinct second layer. Unfortunately, I do not find the reference anymore. In the article [Hoinka (1997)](http://empslocal.ex.ac.uk/people/staff/gv219/classics.d/Hoinka-tropo97.pdf) you will find some information about the discovery of the stratosphere.

# What the Names mean

## Troposphere

tropos (greek): turn(ing)

Turbulent mixing is relevant in this layer of the atmosphere => Turbulent Mixing Sphere => Troposphere

## Stratosphere

stratum (latin): something which covers something else (pavement, blanket)

This layer of the atmosphere, which is not dominated by turbulent mixing, covers the lower turbulent layer => Covering Sphere => Stratosphere

## Mesosphere

mesos (greek): middle
This part of the atmosphere is the third of five (from humans defined) layers of the atmosphere => Layer in the middle (not by distance/height but by counting layers) => Mesosphere

## Thermosphere

thermos (greek): warm, heat

This layer can be heated to above 1000 °C by the sun. However, it does not feel 'warm' because of the low 'air' density. => Heated/hot layer => Thermosphere

## Exosphere

éxo (greek): outside, external

This layer is the most outward located layer of the atmosphere. => At the outer side located => Exosphere


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