TEMPERATURE AND ALTITUDE
Sir, —In ascending above sea-level the temperature rises up to a certain point; after that it descends. Can you say what is the altitude of this point? Fahrenheit. The temperature of the direct rays of the sun increases with altitude as the air becomes more rarified and freer from water vapour and dust particles. These direct rays, however, do very little to warm the air, which obtains most of its heat from the earth's surface by conduction and convection, that is, from ascending currents of warm air. Above about six miles these processes do not operate, and the temperaturo of the air is practically constant from this level up to about 23 miles, the greatest height at which observations have been taken, being about minus 55 degrees centigrade. The currents referred to frequently give riso to warm layers of air at lower levels, but these are temporary and depend on the prevailing weather conditions. There is no defined level at which a riso in air temperature may be expected at all times. In general, the temperature falls progressively with the increase in height.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21492, 16 May 1933, Page 13
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186TEMPERATURE AND ALTITUDE New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21492, 16 May 1933, Page 13
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