Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
an expression known as the adiabatic gradient. This equation can be integrated to give the
variation of temperature in the atmosphere:
T
0
1
z
Mg
C
P
T
0
T
=
−
(H.62)
and for the density:
ρ
=
ρ
0
1
C
P
T
0
z
C
V
R
Mg
−
(H.63)
For a diatomic gas such as N
2
or O
2
,
C
V
=
2
R
, so the density of the atmosphere decreases
with the elevation much faster than its temperature.
