Isothermal Atmosphere

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Isothermal Atmosphere

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An atmosphere in hydrostatic equilibrium in which the temperature is constant with height and in which, therefore, the pressure decreases exponentially upward. In such an atmosphere the thickness between any two levels is given by

ZB - ZA = (RdTv /g) ln (pA/pB)
where Rd is the gas

constant for dry air; Tv is the virtual temperature (K); g is the acceleration of gravity, and pA and pB are the pressures at the heights ZA and ZB respectively. In the isothermal atmosphere there is no finite level at which the pressure vanishes. Also called exponential atmosphere. See barotropy. [[/a>|/a>]]</p> </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use