The Stratification of the Atmosphere1 (I)

Abstract

A suitable nomenclature for atmospheric strata as well as a clear definition of the boundaries is proposed. The necessity of such a new classification is stressed. The atmosphere is divided into an inner and an outer atmosphere; from the latter particles may escape. The inner atmosphere is divided into three spheres—troposphere, stratosphere, and ionosphere—with each sphere in turn being subdivided into 3 or 4 layers. The new classification is based upon the thermal structure of the atmosphere.' Boundaries of each layer are fixed by a sudden change of lapse rate. The bottom layer, the ground layer, the advection layer, and the tropopause layer are subdivisions of the troposphere. The advantages gained by defining a separate tropopause layer as part of the troposphere are discussed in detail. Its upper boundary is assumed to be situated at 12 km over temperate latitudes. The stratosphere, consisting of an isothermal layer, a warm layer, and an upper mixing layer, extends from 12 to 80 km. The atmosphere between 80 and 800 km is occupied by the ionosphere, the subdivisions of which are the E-layer, the Flayer and the atomic layer. Above that height the exosphere exists.

The Extratropical Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere

“…Only after some 200 profiles did de Bort [1902] accept that a nearly isothermal layer in the extratropical upper atmosphere above 10 km might be real. The extratropical tropopause was noted as a region or layer [ Beyers , 1944; Flohn and Penndorf , 1950]. It was recognized early on that the isothermal temperature region would mean a region of enhanced static stability.…”

Transitional natural convection flow in a vertical channel: Impact of the external thermal stratification

“…Experimentally the impact of the temperature stratification on the mass flow rate had been known for many years though not specifically investigated. Haaf et al [16] in a pilot project on a solar chimney, underlined and recorded its "favourable or unfavourable effect", referring to respectively negative and positive thermal stratifications, both of them being encountered in the first dozens meters of the atmosphere [17].…”

The Effect of Sunspots Number on the Total Electron Content (TEC) of the Ionospheric Layer E Over Kirkuk Station for Solar Cycle 24

“…According to the electrical classification of Earth atmosphere layers, are divided in to three main layers, the Troposphere, Stratosphere, and the Ionosphere [1]. The Ionosphere is ionized gas (charged and neutral) particles [2,3].…”