mesosphericadj.
/ˌmɛsə(ʊ)ˈsfɛrɪk/, U.S. /ˌmɛzoʊˈsfɛrɪk/; see also meso- comb. form. Of or relating to the mesosphere (in either sense).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > [adjective] > mantle
mesospheric1940
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > [adjective] > specific region of
subsolar1845
stratospheric1909
tropospheric1914
ionospheric1933
stratospherical1934
mesospheric1940
magnetospheric1961
protonospheric1965
thermospheric1971
plasmaspheric1974
1940 R. A. Daly Strength & Struct. Earth xii. 355 The strength of the sub-asthenospheric shell and an assumed deviation of its surface from the shape of a rotation-spheroid will be given hypothetical explanation. For this layer we have Washington's convenient name ‘mesosphere’ or, better, ‘mesospheric shell’—a coinage more logically conceived than the older synonym ‘centrospheric shell’.
1960 Meteorol. & Geoastrophysical Abstr. 11 1535 Mesospheric temperatures.
1980 Nature 14 Feb. 636/2 These heterogeneities may result..from mixing of mesospheric (lower mantle) and upper mantle components.
1998 New Scientist 14 Nov. 44/3 As the meteors burn up in this layer, the paths taken by the debris will reveal much about mesospheric winds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1940