upper air

noun

, Meteorology.

1. the atmosphere above the lower portion of the troposphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of upper air¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The idea is the jet stream — the upper air circulation that drives weather — is wavier in amplified global warming, said University of Wisconsin-Madison climate scientist Steve Vavrus.

From Seattle Times

And those wave changes in the upper air knock the polar vortex out of its place and toward the United States, Cohen said.

From Seattle Times

“The upper air observing program remains a key contributor to our analyses, model data assimilation, and for our forecasters’ situational awareness,” she said.

From New York Times

Charles King teaches at Georgetown University and is the author of “Gods of the Upper Air” and other books.

From Washington Post

It floated out upon the night, over the housetops, the crescent of the river, losing itself in the silence of the upper air.

From Literature