Atmospheric mixing prevents heavy and light gases from separating by weight
Scientific measurements and simulations refute the absolute claim that atmospheric mixing entirely prevents the separation of gases by weight, demonstrating that gravitational separation does occur in the stratosphere.
The claim states that atmospheric mixing prevents heavy and light gases from separating by weight. However, recent high-precision measurements and 3D simulations (papers 0, 1, and 2) show that gravitational separation of atmospheric gases according to their molecular mass does indeed occur below the turbopause in the stratosphere and upper troposphere. Therefore, the claim is refuted by direct empirical evidence.
S. Ishidoya, S. Sugawara, S. Morimoto, S. Aoki, T. Nakazawa, H. Honda, S. Murayama. Gravitational separation in the stratosphere – a new indicator of atmospheric circulation. 2013. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-8787-2013
The study demonstrates that gravitational separation of atmospheric components by molecular mass occurs even in the stratosphere below the turbopause.
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Dmitry Belikov, Satoshi Sugawara, Shigeyuki Ishidoya, Fumio Hasebe, Shamil Maksyutov, Shuji Aoki, Shinji Morimoto, Takakiyo Nakazawa. Three-dimensional simulation of stratospheric gravitational separation using the NIES global atmospheric tracer transport model. 2019. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-5349-2019
Simulations and measurements show that atmospheric molecule separation under gravity according to molar masses takes place in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere.
Dmitry Belikov, Satoshi Sugawara, Shigeyuki Ishidoya, Fumio Hasebe, Shamil Maksyutov, Shuji Aoki, Shinji Morimoto, Takakiyo Nakazawa. Three-dimensional simulation of stratospheric gravitational separation using the NIES global atmospheric tracer transport model. 2018. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2018-835
This study confirms the presence of gravitational separation of molecules based on molar masses in the lower stratosphere.
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