The nature of noctilucent clouds and the Earth’s ozone layer

Abstract

It has been revealed theoretically that hydrogen self-ignites at a height of120 km and burns up nearly completely at heights of165–200 km. Still higher, its concentration falls off in proportion to pressure because of burning and, therefore, hydrogen does not leave the terrestrial atmosphere. The water vapor that forms during hydrogen combustion descends and changes, under definite temperature conditions, to very small pieces of ice at a height of ∼85 km, the number of which is enough to form noctilucent clouds which are easily observable in twilight. Atomic oxygen forms during the same process of hydrogen combustion. Atomic oxygen combines with molecular oxygen to form ozone. It is noted that the power of this source of ozone is proportional to the hydrogen concentration near the Earth’s surface and can be higher than that of all other sources. Apparently, this circumstance will make it necessary to develop a new approach to clarify the causes of the appearance of the ozone layer and ozone “holes.” The energy released during hydrogen combustion is sufficient to account for the existence of the thermosphere.