Re: How Many Layers to the Atmosphere?
Reply #4 - June 30, 2009, 07:26 AM
Here is an excellent summary that UnsichtbarerGeist just sent me (He has given me permission to post this here.)
Hassan,
i just saw your discussion about the "heavens" on the CoE. This is how i would explain it:
In general there is one atmosphere, but you can partition it as you like it.
You can compare this to europe for example: There is just one europe, but you can partition it by countries, climate zones, areas where ethnic groups live, areas where certain languages are spoken, and so on. Hence, saying that europe has "15 parts" would be a bit stupid - because this number is rather arbitrary. Just take another criterion to get another number.
Now back to the atmosphere: Again, there is just one atmosphere, but it is most common to classify certain regions of the atmosphere as 5 layers (in that context one actually should avoid saying "there ARE 5 layers" but prefer to say "it is common to partition it into 5 layers"). I have also found classifications into fewer layers, but till now no classification into 6 or 7 layers.
For the muslim position it is most important to say, that they cheat to get their 7 layers, because they take 5 layers from a classification by temperature (into 5 layers), and 2 layers from a different classifiction into 2 or 3 layers. In general, in my oppinion it is always much more convincing to show how others cheat to make science fit to their belief, instead of just saying "5 is right, and 7 is wrong" which is in my oppinion. a questionable statement, since the classification can be made a bit arbitrarily.
However, if you want to support the muslim position (without cheating) , all you have to do is to subclassify the atmosphere, until you get your desired 7.
E.g.
1. troposphere (where we live and where the weather takes place)
2 Stratosphere 1 /Ozone layer
3 Stratosphere 2 (without ozone layer)
4. Mesosphere
5. Thermosphere
6 Ionosphere (overlaps with 5 and 7, since it comes from a different classification, but at least fits between those)
7 Exosphere
You see? Here are your seven layers. Btw. i am converting to islam tomorrow ,-).
But as said, this is relatively arbitrary and not common. You can divide it into 8 or 9 layers as well ;-).
UG
Topic: How Many Layers to the Atmosphere?