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Some facts and theories about the upper atmosphere
Author(s) -
Douglas C. K. M.
Publication year - 1935
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49706125806
Subject(s) - anticyclone , tropopause , warm front , stratosphere , advection , troposphere , atmosphere (unit) , subsidence , geology , climatology , air mass (solar energy) , atmospheric sciences , meteorology , environmental science , geography , mechanics , physics , boundary layer , paleontology , structural basin , thermodynamics
The first part of the paper consists mainly of detail, and the latter part of a discussion of general principles, dealing more especially with the structure of depressions and anticyclones. The paper is in five sections:‐ 1. It is shown that the change of temperature of a given moving air mass at fixed levels between 2 and 5 km. is often slow, but that subsidence of initially cold air may cause a rise of temperature of the order of 10°F. in 24 hours in certain cases. 2. It is shown that the ascending air over a rain area is normally warmer than the adjacent air at the 4 km. level. Some details ate given. 3. The variations of the height of the tropopause are discussed. It is thought that the air masses just below and above the tropopause move (slowly) up or down together. 4. The rotary aspects of depressions and anticyclones are considered in relation to convergence and divergence in the horizontal motion. The high‐level systems appear first behind the low‐level centres and are sheared over them. It is thought that a high‐level depression is partly advective in character but also develops over the subsiding cold air, while a high‐level anticyclone (or wedge) develops over rising warm air. 5. It is considered that the troposphere is normally the primary theatre of action, but that air movements in the stratosphere play a necessary part in the development of depressions and anticyclones. There is some discussion of surges and of the movements of air from one system to another.