Heaviside Layer
Preserved but no longer current.
The name'given to an ionised region of the upper atmosphere having a high degree of electrical conductivity. It is believed to exist about 60 miles above the earth and it reflects radio waves back to the earth, thus enabling reception round the curved surface of the globe. The name is taken from Oliver Heaviside (1850-1925) who suggested its exis- tence in 1901.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Heaviside Layer” mean?
The name'given to an ionised region of the upper atmosphere having a high degree of electrical conductivity. It is believed to exist about 60 miles above the earth and it reflects radio waves back to the earth, thus enabling reception round the curved surface of the globe. The name is taken from Oliver Heaviside (1850-1925) who suggested its exis- tence in 1901.
Is “Heaviside Layer” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.