TABLE OF CONTENTS Hypersonic flight either of space-transportation systems or of hypersonic aircraft in the earth atmosphere is in the focal point of the book. Hence the flight environment considered here is that which the earth atmosphere poses. The basic features and properties are discussed, and references are given for detailed information.
The earth atmosphere consists of several layers, the troposphere from sea level up to approximately 10.0 km, the stratosphere between 10.0 km and 50.0 km, the mesosphere between 50.0 km and 80.0 km, and the thermosphere above approximately 80.0 km altitude, Fig. 2.1. The weather phenomena occur mainly in the troposphere, and consequently the fluctuations there mix and disperse introduced contaminants. These fluctuations are only weakly present at higher altitudes.
The stratosphere is characterized by a temperature plateau around 220.0 K to 230.0 K, in the mesosphere it becomes colder, in the thermosphere the temperature rises fast with altitude. Ecologically important is the altitude between 18.0 and 25.0 km with the vulnerable ozone layer.
The composition of the atmosphere can be considered as constant in the homosphere, up to approximately 100.0 km altitude. In the heterosphere, above 100.0 km altitude, it changes with altitude. This is important especially for computational simulations of aerothermodynamics. Note that also around 100.0 km altitude the continuum...
