Up to what height does conduction affect the atmosphere?

Prepare for the ATPL Meteorology Exam. Test your understanding with multiple choice questions and detailed explanations. Elevate your exam readiness!

Conduction primarily affects the atmosphere in the lowest layers, with its influence diminishing as altitude increases. The correct answer reflects that conduction is most significant up to approximately 2000 feet above the Earth's surface, where the impact of ground heating through direct thermal contact is notable.

At this altitude, the temperature gradient still reflects ground influence, allowing the conduction of heat from the surface into the adjacent air layers. Above this height, other processes like convection and radiation begin to dominate, leading to a rapid decrease in the effectiveness of conduction as a heat transfer mechanism in the atmosphere. Thus, it's accurate to state that conduction has a major impact on temperatures and air behavior up to about 2000 feet.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy