A Theory of the Upper Atmosphere and Meteors

A calculation of the rate of separation of gases of different density in the earth´s atmosphere leads us to expect a uniform mixture of all gases below 100 km and densities of hydrogen and helium roughly a hundred thousandth of those previously calculated, for greater heights. Known absorption and radiation coefficients for gases of the upper atmosphere indicate that we should expect a daily temperature variation of about 140° during the summer and 30° during the winter for all heights greater than 80 km. Carbon dioxide is found to be more effective than water vapor in determining the final escape of radiation from the earth and the conclusion is drawn that variations in the carbon dioxide content of the air may explain the variation in climatic conditions of the earth indicated by the ice ages of the past. Frictional resistance offered by the upper atmosphere to the passage of meteors through it is not sufficient to account for the energy radiated by meteors and the conclusion is reached that the energy of the meteor is probably dissipated into the air by the escape of atoms and molecules driven from the meteor by the energies of impacts with molecules of the air.