Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1902 — Height of the Atmosphere. [ARTICLE]

Height of the Atmosphere.

One thing may be said about the new atmosphere. That of old was supposed to he not over sixty miles high. Its ratio of decrease of density seemed to prove this. The atmosphere is now believed to he fully 500 miles high. This belief Is based upon a study of the fall of meteorites. These free wanderers of space plunge into the upper air at so great a speed that their friction, even with the extremely rare gas at that high altitude, soon heats them to Incandescence, nnd they flntno Into light. They have been observed to flash out in this way at a height of over 100 miles. At this elevation the air must be so exceedingly rare as to render it certain that friction with several hundred miles of it would be needed to heat a meteor to the incandescent point. Front this It Is estimated that the upper limit of the atmosphere cannot he less than 500 miles above the surface. It may be much more, says Charles Morris In Llpplncott. The air may extend upward as for ns the force of gravity Is capable of overcoming Its centrifugal force, which steadily increases with height. How high that is no one cau tell.