AE31007: Standard Atmosphere

Presented by
Dr. Susmita Bhattacharyya
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
Contents

• Standard Atmosphere

• Temperature profile

• Pressure and density equations

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 The Standard Atmosphere
• The first step in the design of an aircraft is determination of a set of requirements/specifications
• Specifications depend on aerodynamic characteristics influenced by the properties of the atmosphere
• Atmosphere is a complex dynamically changing system
• The standard atmosphere is a mathematical model that represents an average atmospheric condition
• It is developed by fitting experimental data obtained by weather balloons and sounding rockets
Weather Balloon Sounding Rocket

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Definitions of Altitudes
• Geometric altitude (hG )
• Absolute altitude (ha)
• Model of acceleration due to gravity (g)

𝑟2
▫ 𝑔= 𝑔0 (1) 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑝
(𝑟+ ℎ𝐺 )2 Figure 3.2 from Anderson

• Hydrostatic equation
▫ 𝑝 − 𝜌𝑔𝑑ℎ𝐺 − 𝑝 + 𝑑𝑝 = 0
Figure 3.3 from Anderson
▫ 𝑑𝑝 = −𝜌𝑔𝑑ℎ𝐺 (2)

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Geopotential Altitude
• Let’s assume 𝑑𝑝 = −𝜌𝑔0 𝑑ℎ (3)
• Equating equations 2 and 3
▫ 𝑔𝑑ℎ𝐺 = 𝑔0 𝑑ℎ (4)
• ℎ is called geopotential altitude
• Integrating equation 4 and using
equation 1
𝑟
▫ ℎ= ℎ
𝑟+ ℎ𝐺 𝐺

• Geopotential altitude allows easy

derivation of the standard atmosphere 222252
 Pressure, Temperature and Density
• The standard atmosphere defines pressure, temperature and density at a number of geometric and
geopotential altitudes
• Pressure 𝑝 is the normal force per unit area applied on a surface caused by the time rate of change of
momentum of the gas molecules impinging on the surface
∆𝐹
▫ 𝑝 = lim , ∆𝐴 = elemental area around a point, ∆𝐹 = normal force on ∆𝐴
𝑑𝐴 →0 ∆𝐴

∆𝑚
• Density 𝜌 = lim , ∆𝑚 is the mass of gas inside elemental volume ∆𝑣 around a point
𝑑𝑣 →0 ∆𝑣

• Temperature T is a measure of the average kinetic energy (KE) of the gas particles
3
▫ 𝐾𝐸 = kT , k = Boltzmann constant = 1.23× 10−23 J/K
2

• Flow of air around an aircraft can be approximated to be an ideal gas (intermolecular forces are negligible)
▫ Equation of state for ideal gas holds: 𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇 , R = specific gas constant = 287 J/(Kg K) (normal air) 222262
 Temperature Profile
• It describes temperature variations Thermosphere

with geometric altitude

• Atmosphere is divided into a number Mesosphere
of layers
• There are mainly two segments Maximum height
of balloons
▫ Isothermal where temperature is Stratosphere

constant
Typical airliners Real atmosphere
▫ Gradient where temperature changes cruise here

with altitude Troposphere

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Pressure and Density Profiles (1/2)
• Pressure 𝑝 and density 𝜌 are determined using temperature profile, hydrostatic equation 𝑑𝑝 =
− 𝜌𝑔0 𝑑ℎ (3), and equation of state 𝑝 = 𝜌𝑅𝑇 (5)
• Isothermal segment (T = T1)
P, T
▫ Dividing equation (3) by (5) Isothermal segment

𝑑𝑝 𝑔 𝑝 𝑑𝑝 𝑔 ℎ 𝑝 𝑔 P1, T1
▫ = − 0 𝑑ℎ , Integrating ‫𝑝 𝑝׬‬ = − 0 ‫׬‬ℎ 𝑑ℎ, ln = − 0 (ℎ − ℎ1 )
𝑝 𝑅𝑇 1 𝑅𝑇 1 𝑝1 𝑅𝑇
𝑔0 (ℎ−ℎ )
−𝑅𝑇
▫ Simplifying,𝑝 = 𝑝1 𝑒 1

𝑔0 (ℎ−ℎ )
−𝑅𝑇
▫ Similarly, for 𝜌, 𝜌 = 𝜌1 𝑒 1

𝑑𝑇 (𝑇−𝑇 ) P, T
• Gradient segment (T = T1 + a(ℎ − ℎ1 )) , a = lapse rate = 𝑑ℎ = (ℎ − ℎ1 )
1

𝑑𝑝 𝑔0 𝑑𝑝 𝑔0 𝑑𝑇 P1, T1
▫ Substituting the above into =− 𝑑ℎ , =− 222282
𝑝 𝑅𝑇 𝑝 𝑅𝑇 𝑎
Pressure and Density Profiles (2/2)
• Gradient segment
𝑑𝑝 𝑔0 𝑑𝑇 𝑝 𝑔0 𝑇 P, T
▫ Integrating =− , ln =− ln
𝑝 𝑅𝑇 𝑎 𝑝1 𝑎𝑅 𝑇1

𝑔0
P1, T1
𝑇 −𝑎𝑅
▫ Simplifying 𝑝 = 𝑝1
𝑇1

𝑔0
𝜌 𝑝 𝑇1 𝑝 𝑇 −(𝑎𝑅+1)
▫ Similarly, for density = , substituting for , 𝜌= 𝜌1
𝜌1 𝑝1 𝑇 𝑝1 𝑇1

• How does the pressure and density change with altitude

• Note how the geopotential altitude simplifies calculation
• Appendices B and C of Anderson’s book provide pressure, temperature and density as a function
of geometric and geopotential altitudes
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• At sea level, 𝑝 = 1.01325× 105 N/m2, 𝑇 = 288.16 K, 𝜌 = 1.225 kg/m3
A Few More Points on Standard Atmosphere
• To find 𝑝, 𝑇, and 𝜌 at an altitude between two entries of the standard atmospheric table, one
either has to do linear interpolation between two entries or use the equations for
isothermal/gradient segment
• Pressure, temperature and density altitudes
▫ If the atmospheric pressure, temperature and density outside a plane are 𝑝, 𝑇, and 𝜌, respectively, then
the geometric altitudes corresponding to these in the standard atmosphere are called pressure,
temperature and density altitudes, respectively
▫ They are used for ease of representation

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