  An objective revision of the Laplace barometric formula for isothermal
planetary atmospheres is proposed. From Clausius virial theorem equating the
root mean square kinetic energy to half the gravitational potential energy,
planetary atmospheres are required to have declining temperature with altitude
as a consequence of the interaction between thermodynamic heat flow and
gravity. The virial action hypothesis predicts non adiabatic lapse rates in
temperature yielding a practical means to calculate variations with altitude in
atmospheric entropy, free energy, molecular density and pressure. Remarkably,
the new formulae derived enable prediction of atmospheric profiles with
physical properties closely resembling those observed on Earth, Venus and Mars.
These new formulae provide an objective basis for computing the dynamic
morphology of the atmosphere. Climate scientists may consider this explanatory
hypothesis for self organisation of planetary atmospheres for its possible
relevance for predicting global surface temperatures.
