On September 14 in Science History, one of the most significant events was the discovery of the stratosphere in 1923.
On this day, two U.S. Army Air Service pilots, John A. Macready and Oakley G. Kelly, set a new altitude record by flying a modified Packard-Le Peré LUSAC-11 biplane to an astonishing height of 35,800 feet (10,912 meters). During their flight, they encountered a layer of the atmosphere where the temperature stopped decreasing with altitude, which was contrary to the prevailing understanding of the Earth's atmosphere at the time.
Their discovery provided the first evidence of the existence of the stratosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere above the troposphere. In the stratosphere, temperature remains relatively constant with increasing altitude, unlike in the troposphere, where temperature decreases with height.
This groundbreaking flight and the subsequent scientific investigations revolutionized our understanding of the Earth's atmosphere and paved the way for further exploration of the upper layers of the atmosphere. The discovery of the stratosphere had significant implications for aviation, meteorology, and atmospheric sciences.
Macready and Kelly's record-breaking flight also showcased the advancements in aviation technology and the bravery of early aviators who pushed the boundaries of human flight. Their achievement was a testament to the spirit of scientific exploration and the ongoing quest to unravel the mysteries of our planet and its atmosphere.
Today, we celebrate the anniversary of this remarkable discovery and the contributions of John A. Macready, Oakley G. Kelly, and all the scientists and explorers who have expanded our knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere and the world around us.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
