International Standard Atmosphere

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Not to be confused with Standard conditions for temperature and pressure.
he International Standard Atmosphere !"S#$ is an atmospheric model of how the pressure,
temperature, density, and viscosity of the %arth&s atmosphere change over a wide range of altitudes. "t
has been established to provide a common reference for temperature and pressure and consists of
tables of values at various altitudes, plus some formulae by which those values were derived. he
"nternational 'rgani(ation for Standardi(ation !"S'$ publishes the "S# as an international standard,
"S' )*++:,-.*.
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'ther standards organi(ations, such as the "nternational 1ivil #viation 'rgani(ation
!"1#'$ and the 2nited States 3overnment, publish e4tensions or subsets of the same atmospheric
model under their own standards5making authority.
Contents
, 6escription
) "1#' Standard #tmosphere
+ 'ther standard atmospheres
7 See also
* 8eferences
9 %4ternal links
Description
he "S# model divides the atmosphere into layers with linear temperature distributions.
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he other
values are computed from basic physical constants and relationships. hus the standard consists of a
table of values at various altitudes, plus some formulas by which those values were derived. For
e4ample, at sea level the standard gives a pressure of ,:,+.)* h;a !, atm$ and a temperature of ,*
1elsius, and an initial lapse rate of <9.* =1>km !roughly <) =1>,,::: ft$. he tabulation continues to
,, km where the pressure has fallen to ))9.+) h;a and the temperature to <*9.* =1. ?etween ,, km
and ): km the temperature remains constant.
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Standard #tmosphere ,-.9
@ayers in the "S#
Layer
Level
Name
Base
Geopotential
Height
h (in km)
Base
Geometric
Height
z (in km)
Lapse
ate
(in !C"km)
Base
#emperat$re
T (in !C)
Base
Atmospheric
%ress$re
p (in %a)
: roposphere :.: :.: <9.* A,*.: ,:,+)*
, ropopause ,,.::: ,,.:,- A:.: <*9.* ))9+)
) Stratosphere ):.::: ):.:9+ A,.: <*9.* *7.7.-
+ Stratosphere +).::: +).,9) A).B <77.* B9B.:)
7 Stratopause 7..::: 7..+*: A:.: <).* ,,:.-,
* Cesosphere *,.::: *,.7,+ <).B <).* 99.-+-
9 Cesosphere .,.::: .,.B:) <).: <*B.* +.-*97
. Cesopause B7.B*) B9.::: D <B9.) :.+.+7
"n the above table, geopotential height is calculated from a mathematical model in which the
acceleration due to gravity is assumed constant. 3eometric height results from the !more accurate$
assumption that gravity obeys an inverse sEuare law.
/citation needed0
he "S# model is based on average conditions at mid latitudes, as determined by "S'&s 1 ):>S1 9
technical committee. "t has been revised from time to time since the middle of the ):th century.
ICA& Standard Atmosphere
he "nternational 1ivil #viation 'rgani(ation !"1#'$ published their F"1#' Standard #tmosphereF as
6oc .7BB516 in ,--+. "t has the same model as the "S#, but e4tends the altitude coverage to B:
kilometres !)9),*:: feet$.
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he "1#' Standard #tmosphere does not contain water vapour
Some of the values defined by "1#' are:
ICA& Standard Atmosphere
Height km ' (t #emperat$re !C %ress$re h%a Lapse ate !C")*** (t
: km CS@ ,*.: ,:,+.)* <,.-B !ropospheric$
,, km +9 ::: ft <*9.* ))9.:: :.:: !Stratospheric$
): km 9* ::: ft <*9.* *7..: A:.+ !Stratospheric$
+) km ,:* ::: ft <77.* B.9B
#s this is a Standard, you will not always encounter these conditions outside of a laboratory, but many
#viation standards and flying rules are based on this, altimetry being a maGor one. he standard is very
useful in Ceteorology for comparing against actual values.
&ther standard atmospheres
he 2.S. Standard #tmosphere is a set of models that define values for atmospheric temperature,
density, pressure and other properties over a wide range of altitudes. he first model, based on an
e4isting international standard, was published in ,-*B by the 2.S. 1ommittee on %4tension to the
Standard #tmosphere,
/90
and was updated in ,-9),
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,-99,
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and ,-.9.
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he 2.S. Standard
#tmosphere, "nternational Standard #tmosphere and WC' !World Ceteorological 'rgani(ation$
standard atmospheres are the same as the "S' "nternational Standard #tmosphere for altitudes up to
+) km.
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N8@CS"S%5:: is an empirical, global model of the %arth&s atmosphere from ground to space. "t
models the temperatures and densities of the atmosphere&s components. # primary use of this model is
to aid predictions of satellite orbital decay due to atmospheric drag.
he standard conditions for temperature and pressure are a model of gas temperature and pressure used
in chemistry.