Q. Consider the following statements:
1.The ionosphere is the warmest layer of the atmosphere.
2.The ionosphere grows and shrinks depending on the energy it absorbs from the Sun.
3.The earthquakes have effects on the ionosphere.
4.The ionosphere is most dense during the night and less dense during the day.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 4 are incorrect. The ionosphere is quite cold, typically ranging from -100°C to 0°C. The warmest layer of the atmosphere is the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere. The ionosphere is most dense during the day due to solar ionization. At night, with the absence of solar radiation, it becomes less dense.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The ionosphere’s density varies with solar activity. During the day, the Sun’s energy ionizes the upper atmosphere, causing the ionosphere to expand. At night, it contracts as ionization decreases. Scientists have found that the earthquakes, even smaller ones, affect the ionosphere, causing disruptions known as coseismic ionospheric perturbations (CIP).
Source: ForumIAS
