THE EFFECT OF CONVECTION ON THE CLIMATIC TEMPERATURE PROFILE OF A PLANETARY ATMOSPHERE

A model is developed for the heat redistribution in a planetary atmosp here. The planet surface is assumed to be sufficiently warmed by an ex ternal source to establish a convective temperature profile in the low er part of the planetary atmosphere. Parameters of the model, such us the of the convective layer of the atmosphere and the temperature of i ts surface regions, are determined. It is found that the greenhouse ef fect is governed by the ratio of the characteristic depth of the layer containing the main body of the ''greenhouse'' gas to the depth of th e convective layer. Realistic estimates are found for the temperature of the surface regions and for the depth of the adiabatic layer with r eference to the earth atmosphere.