Definition of "atmospheric" []

• Of, relating to, or existing in the atmosphere. (adjective)
• Produced by, dependent on, or coming from the atmosphere. (adjective)
• Resembling or representing the atmosphere; having or giving the effect of translucence: a painting suffused with a hazy, atmospheric glow. (adjective)
• Intended to evoke a particular emotional tone or aesthetic quality: lush atmospheric touches in every room. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "First schedule is to start doing what we call an atmospheric drop test, taking it up to a high altitude and letting it go and then piloting it down to make sure that the vehicle has all the necessary characteristics to allow to act as a piloted vehicle."
• "Even that data is suspect at the claimed resolutions due to the variabilityies of the satellite orbits due to variations in atmospheric drag, solar wind, etc. affecting orbits."
• "The issue is how far down the road do we wish to continue the negative deline in atmospheric quality before we act."