Temperature of the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

MESSRS. GOLD AND HARWOOD in their paper on the present state of our knowledge of the upper atmosphere, printed in the British Association's reports for 1909, give a table showing the mean temperatures for the months of the year at heights varying from the surface to 15 kilometres. With regard to it they say the principal feature is the very marked minimum in March and the small, though less marked, effect in September. The table is based upon about 5800 readings taken at Strassburg during five years. With the aid of this table I have plotted on the accompanying diagram the temperatures at various heights (isotherms). Plotted in this manner, a result is obtained which shows clearly that a check in the fall of temperature takes place between September and October. The principal feature, however, is the rise of temperature between December and February, and the small gradient of temperature below 2000 metres during those months.