STRATIFICATION OF CLOUD LAYERS IN A STABLE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

In this paper an attempt is made to explain the phenomenon of cloud stratification which is occasionally observed in the atmosphere. The leading thought is that these stratifications are caused by internal gravity waves. The atmosphere is assumed to consist of two layers of compressible air. The lower layer has a constant lapse rate, and the upper layer is isothermal. The quasi-static assumption is made. This assumption is found to be justifiable in the range of waves under consideration. It is found that waves whose phase velocities are of the order of 10m. sec.?1 are capable of producing three strata whose elevations fall within the limits of observed altitudes of tropospheric clouds. The proposed mechanism is also found to be consistent with the observed heights of some stratospheric clouds.