The vertical temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere under daylight conditions

✍ Scribed by G. W. C. Tait

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1949
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 354 KB
• Volume: 75
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9009
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.49707532508

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A relationship is derived between the vertical temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere during daylight hours and other meteorological quantities. Pyrheliometer records of solar radiation taken simultaneously with temperature gradient measurements gave the empirical relation T1–T2 =(0.4–41) log~10~ Z1/Z2 where T is the temperature in °F at height Z cm and I the insolation in cal cm^−2^/min. This equation was converted into a more useful form by expressing the insolation in terms of state of sky, latitude and time. The relationship disclosed was found to be independent of wind speed (at least up to speeds of 24 mi/hr). The data on which the relation is based is confined to observations at Suffield, a semi‐arid locality. A brief discussion of other conditions of exposure suggests that some generality of application may be permissible.