What term describes when gases are formed in two layers according to temperatures, gas density, and pressure?

The term that describes when gases are formed in two layers based on temperature, gas density, and pressure is thermal stratification. This phenomenon occurs in environments such as buildings during a fire, where the warmer, less dense gases rise to the ceiling while cooler, denser gases settle lower. This layering effect is crucial for firefighters to understand, as it impacts smoke movement, heat retention, and the overall behavior of fire gases.

Thermal stratification can create conditions in which visibility and air quality vary significantly at different heights within a space, affecting both the fire environment and the safety of responders. Understanding this allows facility fire brigade members to plan their approaches accordingly, ensuring their safety and effectiveness in firefighting operations.

Fluid dynamics refers to the movement of fluids (liquids and gases) and while it plays a role in understanding the behavior of gases, it does not specifically define the layering of gases based on temperature, density, and pressure. Rapid fire development relates to how quickly a fire can progress under certain conditions, and heat transfer deals with the movement of thermal energy, neither of which directly explains the concept of gas layering.