AE 321Flight Mechanics I Course Instructor : Prof. A.K.

Ghosh

Lecture
Standard Atmosphere

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Why do we need to define a standard atmosphere?

Standard atmosphere is defined in order to relate

flight tests, wind tunnel tests general airplane design
and performance to a common reference.

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Different Altitudes

Absolute altitude (ha) - The altitude as measured from the center of the earth

Geometric altitude (hg) - The altitude as measured from the mean sea level

Geo-potential altitude (h) -The geometric altitude corrected for the gravity variation

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From Figure, It can be concluded that the absolute

altitude is the sum of geometric altitude and mean radius
of the earth.

Mathematically, this relationship can be written as,

ha = hg + r (1)
where, r = mean radius of earth

Figure: Schematic diagram representing

geometric altitude and absolute altitude

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Acceleration due to gravity and altitude relationship

If gravitational acceleration at the sea level is g0 and the local gravitational constant is g for a
given absolute altitude ha; then the relationship between g and g0 follows :

2
r
2
r
g g 0 g 0 (2)
rh
ha g

Why are we discussing these altitudes and their dependencies?

To express the thermodynamic properties of the atmosphere (P,,T) as a function of

altitude; these concepts are required.

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Geo-potential and geometric altitudes

The hydrostatic equation of an infinitesimal fluid is given by

dP gdh g (3)
Where, P- hydrostatic pressure (Pa)
density kg/m3
g acceleration (m/s2) due to gravity corresponding to geometric altitude h
a
In order to obtain the hydrostatic pressure (P) at a particular geometric altitude (hg), the above
expression has to be integrated.
Density and acceleration due to gravity, are functions of altitude makes integration a bit more
complex/difficult.
In order to simplify this integration, the concept of geo-potential altitude (h) has been introduced.

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Geo-potential altitudes

It is a fictitious altitude corrected for the gravity variation, which is typically used to ease the
integration process (Equation 3). In simple terms, it can be called as gravity adjusted height. The
adjustment uses Earth's mean sea level as reference.
Now we can rewrite the hydrostatic equation, by replacing the geometric altitude with geo-potential
altitude (h)
dP g 0dh g (4)
Where, g = acceleration (m/s2) due to gravity at mean sea level
0

Using the two hydrostatic equations, 3 & 4, we can derive the relationship between geometric
and geo-potential altitude g dh
1 0
g dhg
g 0 dh
dh (5)
g dhg
r2
dh
r hg 2 g
dh (6)

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Integrating dh from sea level up to any given value of h (different from hg) at a given point in
atmosphere where geometric altitude is hg, we get

h h
r2
0 dh 0 (r h g ) 2 dh g
h
dh g
r (r h
2

0 g )2
hg
1
hr 2
(r h )
2
g 0
r
h hg (7)
r hg

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Definition of standard atmosphere

From early on, researchers conducted experiments with

sounding rockets and hot air balloons to study about the
variation of temperature with altitude.
Typical pattern of variation of temperature to altitude is shown
in Figure.
Vertical lines (constant temperature/isothermal regions)
Inclined lines (gradient regions)

Figure : Plot representing variation of temperature with altitude

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Modeling the atmosphere

The plot of variation of temperature with altitude (Figure) was

obtained from using experimental data
We proceed to derive the pressure and density variation with
altitude with the help of the temperature vs altitude plot shown in
Figure.
The modified hydrostatic equation is
dP g 0 dh (8)
Divide by the equation of state P= RT
dP g dh g dh
0 0 (9)
P RT RT

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 AE 321Flight Mechanics I

First we will consider the Isothermal region where the temperature remain relatively constant.
Temperature, pressure and density at the base of isothermal region are:

PdP g 0 h
P1 P RT h1 dh (10)

P g0
ln (h h1 )
P1 RT
g
P 0 ( h h1 )
e RT (11)
P1
Again,
P T
(12)
P1 1T1 1

g
( hh )
0

e RT
1
(13)
1

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Now consider the Gradient region, and the temperature variation can be written as,
T T1 dT
(14)
h h1 dh
Where, Lapse rate
dT
dh (15)

Again,
dP g dT
0 (16)
P R T
Intergarting,

P T
dP g dT
p P R0 T T
1 1

P g dT
ln 0 ln
P1 R T
g0

P T R
(17)
P1 T1
Using equation of state P RT, we can write,
P T
(18)
P1 1T1

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g0

T T R

1T1 T1
g0
1
T R

1 T1
g
0 1
T R
(19)
1 T1

The computation of pressure and density at different layer using standard expressions, listed in
Table 1.

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In a normal day, the standard atmosphere will always be reliable, since the assumptions used to
develop the mathematical models are not violated.
But on a non-standard day, this model cannot be completely relied upon. Hence, it is necessary to
define two more new altitudes based on the standard atmosphere model:

Pressure Altitude
Density Altitude

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Pressure Altitude

Pressure altitude is the altitude associated with a given pressure assuming standard atmosphere
or standard atmospheric conditions. In other words, pressure altitude is the altitude an airplane
would be at, if it was a standard day.
The airplane's altimeters measures the altitude based on the sea level pressure (101325 Pa), for a
standard atmosphere.
When the pilot starts the airplane, he sets the altimeter for this sea level pressure setting.
While pressure altitude provides a correction for pressure, it does not take into consideration the
ambient temperature of the air - a factor that, on a hot day when performance of the aircraft is
degraded, is far more critical.

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Density Altitude

Density altitude is defined as the altitude at which the density of the Standard Atmosphere is same
as the density of the air being evaluated.

The density altitude is the pressure altitude corrected for the standard temperature

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Example

Example 1: Calculate the standard atmosphere values of T, P, and at a Geo-potential

altitude of 15 km.

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Solution
From temperature altitude map, T = 288.16 K (sea level condition)

The calculation will be carried out first from sea level to 11km and then from 11km to 15km.

Gradient Region: from h = 0 to h = 11 km, with lapse rate of = -6.5 K/km. So,
g0

T R
P P1
T1
g0
( h h1 )
1e RT

Using standard atmosphere conditions, we have P1 = Ps = 1.01325 x105 N/m2

1 s 1.225kg / m 3
T1 = Ts = 288.16K

The pressure and density at 11 km are then obtained as follows.

11 0.367kg / m3
P11 = 0.26 x 104 N/m2

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Isothermal region : From 11km to 14km

g0

T R
P15 P11
T1
g0
( h h1 )
15 11e RT

Here the subscript 11" refers to the values at h = 11.0km. The calculations result in
pressure and density at h = 15.0 km as :

P15 = 1:2112 x 104 N/m2

15 0.1947 kg/m 3

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Example

Example 2: If an airplane is flying at an altitude where the actual pressure and temperature are
4.72 x 104 N/m2 and 255.7K respectively, calculate the pressure, temperature and density
altitudes?

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Solution

Using standard atmospheric table, we find that:

Pressure altitude = 6 km (i.e. altitude corresponding to pressure = 4.7 x104 N/m2 in

standard atmosphere table/figure)

Temperature altitude = 5km (or 38.2 or 59.5km)

(altitude corresponding to Temp = 255.7K is standard atmosphere)

Use equation of state = P/RT to find the density as; = 0.643kg/m3

And then using the standard atmosphere table, as obtain:
Density altitude = 6.24km.

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International Standard Atmosphere Table

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Wind Pattern

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Cloud Pattern
The list of cloud types is a summarization of the modern
system of cloud classification. The major tropospheric
genus types are commonly grouped as follows:
High-level from 16,500 to 40,000 ft (5 to 12 km): Cirrus,
cirrocumulus, and cirrostratus.
Mid-level from 6,500 to 23,000 ft (2 to 7 km): Altocumulus
and altostratus.
Low-level from near surface to 6,500 feet (2.0 km):
Stratocumulus, stratus, and cumulus.
Multi-level from near surface to 40,000 ft (12km) or
higher: Nimbostratus, cumulus congestus (subtype), and
cumulonimbus.

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