PRESSURE AND DENSITY SCALE HEIGHTS DEFINING ATMOSPHERIC MODELS.
Abstract
Pressure scale height, density scale height and their vertical gradients, all defined in terms of geopotential altitude, are compared and related. Constant vertical gradients of both geopotential pressure scale height and geopotential density scale height are seen to exist simultaneously. This situation leads to simply related equivalent expressions for both pressure ratio and density ratio versus geopotential height in terms of the geopotential gradients of either pressure or density scale height. These equations involve series expansions which, for many applications, may be truncated after the first term which is unity. The errors introduced into the pressure and density ratios by such truncation is considered. Simultaneously constant vertical gradients of the geometric versions of both pressure and density scale height are shown to be physically impossible. The implication of this situation on equations for pressure and density ratios in terms of geometric altitude and constant gradients of the geometric forms of pressure and density scale height are considered. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- AD0602497
Entities
People
- Raymond A. Minzner