thermal barrier

American  

noun

Aeronautics, Rocketry.

1. the high temperatures produced by the friction between a supersonic object and the earth's atmosphere that limit the speed of an airplane or rocket.

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thermal barrier British  

noun

1. Also called: heat barrier.  an obstacle to flight at very high speeds as a result of the heating effect of air friction

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Etymology

Origin of thermal barrier

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

But as the climate heats up, this “thermal barrier” could erode as fungi in the environment adapt to higher temperatures.

From Science Magazine

The biggest focus of current green-building efforts is on the “building envelope,” which is the thermal barrier between the inside of your home and the outdoor environment.

From Seattle Times

“So our temperature is almost like a thermal barrier that protects us against many organisms.”

From Scientific American

Buried inside the extra-thick walls of these homes are layers of high-density fiberglass insulation flanked by rigid foam boards taped together at the seams to forge a thermal barrier.

From The Wall Street Journal

The hot weather creates a thermal barrier on the Okanogan which means the chinook and sockeye will be stacked up in the cooler water of Brewster Pool.

From Seattle Times