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Coldest Temperature in Atmosphere; Elevation
Name: Tyler
Status: student
Grade: 6-8
Country: USA
Date: Spring 2012
Question:
At approximately what elevation does the coldest temperature occur in the atmosphere?
Replies:
The atmospheric temperature, humidity, pressure and other parameters change with the specific altitude etc. However, an average called the U.S. Standard Atmosphere (1976) is an average of a large number of measurements. This is used so that even though there are changes, atmospheric scientists can at least use a common “atmosphere”. Although computing this average is pretty complicated, it provides a common baseline for calculating various atmospheric parameters. You can find tabulations and graphs in various references – for example, AIP Physics Desk Reference, or on any number of web sites – Search the term “U.S. standard atmosphere 1976”. While it varies from actual data, it provides a common baseline for various computations.
Vince Calder
Tyler,
br>
The coldest temperature occurs at the top of the Mesosphere,
at 80 to 95 kilometers height.
David R. Cook
Meteorologist
Climate Research Section
Environmental Science Division
Argonne National Laboratory
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Update: June 2012
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