Abstract
The stratosphere was discovered in the pioneering days of high-altitude balloon research. Between 1899 and 1902 experiments performed by Assmann and Teisserenc de Bort revealed a cold isothermal layer extending upwards from the top of the troposphere. The initial height of the layer appeared to vary from about 6 km in the polar regions to 18 km above the equator. As a result of such balloon measurements, it was long supposed that beyond the troposphere the temperature ceased to change with altitude. In the presence of the earth’s gravitational field such an isothermal region would, of course, be characterized by a diffusive separation of its various constituents, with the heavier gases settling out and the lighter ones predominating at the higher altitudes. The name stratosphere aptly describes such an atmosphere.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Best, N. R., Durand, E., Gale, D. I., and Havens, R. J., “Pressure and Temperature Measurements in the Upper Atmosphere.” Phys. Rev., 70:985 (1946).
Best, N. R., Havens, R., and LaGow, H., “Pressure and Temperature of the Atmosphere to 120 km.” Phys. Rev., 1:915–916 (1947).
Borne, G. v. d., “Über die Schallverbreitung bei Explo-sionskatastrophen.” Phys. Z., 11:483–488 (1910).
Brasefield, C. J., “Exploring the Ozonosphere.” Sci. Mon., 68:395–399 (1949).
Cox, E. F., “Upper Atmosphere Temperatures from Re mote Sound Measurements.” Amer. J. Phys., 16:465–474 (1948).
Duckert, P., “Über die Ausbreitung von Explosionswellen in der Erdatmosphare.” Beitr. Geophys., (Supp.) 1:236–290 (1931).
Gowan, E. H., “Ozonosphere Temperatures Under Radia tion Equilibrium.” Proc. roy. Soc., (A) 190:219–226 (1947).
Gutenberg, B., “The Velocity of Sound Waves and the Temperature in the Stratosphere in Southern California.” Bull. Amer. meteor. Soc., 20:192–201 (1939).
Gutenberg, B., “New Data on the Lower Stratosphere.” Bull. Amer. meteor. Soc., 30:62–64 (1949).
Havens, R. J., Koll, R. T., and LaGow, H., Pressures and Temperatures in the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere. Nav. Res. Lab. Rep., Washington, D. C., March, 1950.
Havens, R. J., “A New Vacuum Gage.” Rev. sci. Instrum., 21:596–598 (1950).
Lindemann, F. A., and Dobson, G. M. B., “A Theory of Meteors, and the Density and Temperature of the Outer Atmosphere to Which It Leads.” Proc. roy. Soc., (A) 102:411–437 (1923).
Mitra, S. K., The Upper Atmosphere. Calcutta, Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1948. (See pp. 21–24, 509 )
Pekeris, C. L., “Atmospheric Oscillations.” Proc. roy. Soc., (A) 158:650–671 (1937).
Penndorf, R., “Beitrage zum Ozonproblem, Die Rolle des Ozons im Wärmehaushalt der Stratosphäre.” Veroff. geophys. Inst. Univ. Lpz. (2nd ser.), 8:181–285 (1936).
Ratner, B., Temperature, Pressure, and Relative Humidity over the United States and Alaska. Washington, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, 42 pp., 1945.
Rosseland, S., and Steensholt, G., “On the Relative Intensity of Bands in a Sequence and the Temperature of the Upper Atmosphere.” Univ. Obs., Oslo, Pub. No. 7, 17 pp. (1933).
Weekes, K., and Wilkes, M. V., “Atmospheric Oscilla tions and the Resonance Theory.” Proc. roy. Soc., (A) 192:80–99 (1947).
Whipple, F. J. W., “The High Temperature of the Upper Atmosphere as an Explanation of Zones of Audibility.” Nature, Lond., 111:187 (1923).
Whipple, F. L., “Meteors and the Earth’s Upper Atmos phere.” Rev. mod. Phys., 15:246–264 (1943).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1951 American Meteorological Society
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Newell, H.E. (1951). Temperatures and Pressures in the Upper Atmosphere. In: Malone, T.F. (eds) Compendium of Meteorology. American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-940033-70-9_25
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-940033-70-9_25
Publisher Name: American Meteorological Society, Boston, MA
Online ISBN: 978-1-940033-70-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive