TRAINING NOTES

(13.8 INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS)

ATMOSPHERE:
A relatively thin layer of air called the atmosphere surrounds the earth.
This extends upwards from the surface for a distance of about 250 miles
and is composed mainly of nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21% plus 1% of other
gases which includes amongst others, argon, carbon dioxide and helium.
Under the gravitational effect of the earth, the atmosphere exerts a
pressure upon the surface of the earth. This pressure, if measured at sea
level, it is approximately 1.013bar (14.7lbf/in2), and reduces with height.
The pressure reduction, is not linear, the rate of pressure reduction
decreases with a rise in altitude to form an exponential curve.
Temperature and water vapour within the air also affects the pressure of
the air, and therefore the height at which a particular pressure can be
measured. Figure shows a Height/pressure graph.

Temperature change within the atmosphere can be divided into 3 bands,

Corresponding to the 3 layers or regions of the atmosphere:
1. The Troposphere.
2. The Stratosphere.
3. The Chemosphere.
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Figure shows three bands of the atmosphere.

The height of these layers varies considerably with latitude and the
season. It is assumed that the troposphere extends to a height of 36,090ft
and has a temperature gradient falling at a linear rate to 56.5C at
36,090ft. The stratosphere is assumed to range from 36,090ft to
104,987ft and to have a constant temperature of 56.5C. Above this is
the Chemosphere, extending to the limits of the atmosphere and which is
assumed to have a temperature gradient, which initially rises
approximately 2C for each 1000ft of altitude. For the purpose of aircraft
pressure instruments, these higher levels are not important.
STANDARD ATMOSPHERE
To be able to produce an instrument capable of accurately measuring
aircraft height (and speed) using only the prevailing atmospheric
pressure, requires that the instrument be calibrated and tested against a
set of standard conditions. Standard atmospheres have been in use since
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1800s. the early ones being based on very simple temperature laws.
During WW1, these were found to be inadequate, this led to the
development and the international acceptance in 1924 of the
International Committee on Air Navigation (ICAN) standard. This standard
was adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in
1952. Advances in aircraft performance and the introduction of missiles
highlighted the need for an increase in the altitude range of the standard
atmosphere, the ICAO limit being 65,000ft. This introduced two further
standards to supplement the ICAO standard, these being the Wright Air
Development Centre (WADC) and the Air Research Development
Command (ARDC).