THE COLD EARTH,

Abstract

From a conduction viewpoint, the earth represents a heat sink in the solar atmosphere. Mesopause temperatures range between 135K and 220K in the 80 km region, with the coldest portion in summer high latitudes. This region of low temperature in the earth's atmosphere is indicated to be maintained by turbulent flow in the 50-110 km region. Through thermodynamic processes in the gravity field, turbulence transports heat downward toward the stratopause from the hot solar atmosphere. The mode of heat conduction is complex as a result of interactions between the solar plasma and the earth's electromagnetic environment. It is shown that this conduction mode of heat transport has a significant impact on the heat distribution of the upper atmosphere. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0697106

Entities

People

  • Willis L. Webb

Organizations

  • Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmosphere (Earth)
  • Atmospheres
  • Electromagnetic Environments
  • Environment
  • Grids
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Sinks
  • High Latitudes
  • Latitude
  • Low Temperature
  • Mesopause
  • Solar Atmosphere
  • Thermodynamic Processes
  • Transport Ships
  • Turbulent Flow

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science/Meteorology
  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.