The discussion centers around the phenomenon of temperature and heat transfer in the thermosphere, particularly the claim that an animal would freeze at a temperature of 500 degrees centigrade due to the conditions present at high altitudes. The scope includes theoretical considerations of temperature, heat transfer mechanisms, and the implications of atmospheric conditions on living organisms.
Participants express differing views on the implications of temperature in the thermosphere and the mechanisms of heat transfer, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.
Participants highlight limitations in understanding the relationship between temperature, heat transfer, and atmospheric conditions, particularly the role of radiation versus convection in such a low-density environment.
That doesn't make any sense to me. You get cold by transferring heat, so while it is true that there is not enough air to gain heat by convection, you can't lose heat by convection either. So how do you (or that thermometer) get cold? Radiation? Well...wik said:The few particles of gas in this area can reach 2,500°C (4500°F) during the day. Even though the temperature is so high, one would not feel warm in the thermosphere, because it is so near vacuum that there is not enough contact with the few atoms of gas to transfer much heat. A normal thermometer would read significantly below 0°C.
If the air gets hot by absorbing solar radiation, why wouldn't you? At night, though, you would certainly get cold by radiating heat (though we calculated that once here and found that you could stand it for quite a while - probably indefinitely with a little insulation).wik said:temperatures increase with altitude due to absorption of highly energetic solar radiation by the small amount of residual oxygen still present. Temperatures are highly dependent on solar activity, and can rise to 2,000°C.